THETIS INQUIRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 5 July 1939, Page 7

THETIS INQUIRY

CAPTAIN ORAM’S EVIDENCE MARKER BUOY NOT SEEN UFA -My Electric Telegraph -Oipvnahtl (Received sth July. 9.0 a.m.) LONDON. 4th July. At the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the disaster to the British submarine, Thetis. Captain H. B Oram, one of the survivors, was examined by Mr R. Paget (representing the relatives ! if the Cammell Laird apprentice, Wil- ■ iam Smith), who suggested that the possibility of saving the crew was lost by dilatoriness in sending slups to the scene. Captain Oram: I would not say dilatoriness. “I suggest that the real cause of the disaster was dilatoriness.” repeated Mr Paget, “and another cause was the excessive number of men aboard the submarine.”

Captain Oram agreed the effect of over-crowding was that instead of having 48 hours’ supply of air, the crew had only 24. He admitted that each time the Davis apparatus was used a certain quantity of air escaped. Mr Paget: If carbon dioxide poisoning happened more quickly than you expected, would not that account for the failure of any more to escape. Captain Oram: It might have been a contributory cause. Witness added that the number of contractors end men was normal for the surface part of the trial, but it was a fact that nobody disembarked prior to submerging, according to the customary procedure. He agreed it was inexplicable that the tug did not see the marker buoy. It was always a matter for immediate attention if a submarine did not send to the surface a signal within a specified period. Ships ought to have been in the vicinity earlier than they were, in which event, he said there was no doubt the men would have escaped.

Lieutenant Woods, describing the escape in the Davis jacket, said Stoker Arnold, who followed, thought he saw sparks and smoke through the escape chamber scuttle, and when no others followed witness suggested tapping the null to let those imprisoned know that help was at hand. This was at 10.15 a.m There was no answer. Presumably the occupants were dead Lieut. Woods added that when he escaped the distress of the others was very bad. Many of them being too weak to make their escape. The inquiry was adjourned SALVAGE OPERATIONS [British Official Wireless] (Received sth July. 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, 4th July. To-day s report of salvage operations on the Thetis was J, iat strong winds prevented the placing of lifting wires under the submarine.