LOST NAVAL SIGNAL-BOOK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 12 April 1909, Page 3

LOST NAVAL SIGNAL-BOOK

The Plymouth correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" reported as follows: — Particulars of a distressing character reached Plymouth in connection with the temporaiy loss of a box containing the confidential signal books and codes belonging to the cruiser Diamond. The incident took place during the recent visit of the Channel fleet to Torbay ,and was responsible for the detention there of the battleship Swiftsure and the cruiser Diamond. They remained after the rest of the fleet left to return to Portland, owing to th c anchorage at Torbay not being safe for a large number of ships with strong easterly winds and a heavy ground swell. At the time no reason was assigned for the Swiftsuro and ■_ the Diamond not accompanying the fleet, although it was considered remarkable that these two ships should have been left in Torbay. Vice-Admiral Sir A. B Milne, acting commander-in-chief of the Channel fleet,- gave directions at Portland for divers from the battleships Hibernia and London to proceed on board the Commonwealth, in order that the three ships might furnish a diving parly for work in Torbay, but with what particular object it was not stated. The Commonwealth arrived at Torbay on Monday, 15th February, and it was then ascertained that since Sunday morning efforts bad been made to recover a box of signal books and rodes from the Diamond, but without success. The box, it was stated, had beer, thrown overboard by a member of the ship's signal staff, who had suddenly lost control of his senses, and committed the act whilst in a state of frenzy, before he could be overpowered. The divers on board the .Commonwealth proceeded on board the Diamond, and having been instructed as to the spot where the box went down, they descended. Commander Edmund Carver, of the Swiftsure, himself an accomplished diver, was in charge of the operations, and also went down to assist in the search. After about- five hours' work the box was found by one of the party named Dawe. who was complimented by Commander Carver on his success. Like all receptacles for confidential codes, the box in question is weighted with lead, and has boles arount it for admitting water, so ns to ensure its sinking in the event of the ships being taken in action. Had the book not been recovered its loss would have necessitated complete revision of the navy's confidential signalling code