ALL DEAD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 August 1928, Page 5

ALL DEAD

CREW OF ITALIAN SUBMARINE

THIRTY-ONE PERISH

FROM POISONOUS GASES

United Press Association—By Electr , o Telegraph—Copyright Australian Press Association.—United Service

LONDON, Bth August. Tlie Italian submarine Fl 4, which sank after colliding with a destroyer, was raised, and when opened the whole crew of 31 were dead, having been asphyxiated by poisonous gases. DRAMATIC LAST MOMENTS MESSAGES SUDDENLY CEASE, ROME, Bth August. Fl 4 was brought to the surface willing 34 hours of the collision. The final moments of the imprisoned crew were dramatic. A message came from within the submarine : “Wo arc waiting calmly to bo rescued.” Then cheerfully: “We are confident will be no longer than you can help.’’ Tho wireless operator continued tho messages until —“twenty-two of our men are still alive and perhaps •” This last, message was dramatically broken off just as the work of raising the submarine began. Apparently the steep slant of the craft as it was being hauled to the surface upset the storage battery, fumes from winch overcame the men. Throughout the night the rescuers stuck prinily to their task, struggling for a foothold on the wind-lashed; sea-swept pontoons, slowly drawing the submarine to tho surface. Once tlie submarine heavily canted, and it is believed tins caused acid to flow to the accumulatpis and commenced to, form fatal chloride gas, for shortly afterwards the' signals ceased. ( FEARS REALISED ROME, Bth August. The submarine was raised by means of pontoons.' , . -. . Officials wearing gas masks lmmechatelv entered, and made tho shocking discovery that the members of the crew wero dead. It had been feared, owing to the submarine’s slant, that tlie storage batteries might have upset, threatening chloride suffocation, and the fears were only too well realised, though sufficient oxygen to last for 48 hours had been pumped into the hull. . , . The crew normally consisted of two officers and 19 men, but 10 apprentice mechanics from tho ( Aiola Naval Training College were aboard for manoeuvres, swelling tho death roll.