BIG SUBMARINE SUNK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20924, 14 July 1931, Page 11

BIG SUBMARINE SUNK.

toss OF TWENTY LIVES.

SIX MEN'S DRAMATIC ESCAPE

NEW SELF-RESCUE DEVICE.

gunk in misty weather by the Yuta, a Chinese merchant vessel, near Weihaivei, the giant British submarine Poseidon was on June 9 the scene of a drama in naval history. Twenty-four men went to the bottom 4ith the ill-fated vessel. When all hopo cf them had been'given up six escaped by 8 submarine rescue apparatus. Two of died later. The collision occurred as tho Poseidon was cr\ the surface after carrying out underwater practice attacks on cruisers accompanying her. The Chinese steamer picked up five officers and 26 men. Warships jaced to the rescue but it was some time before they could locate tho submarine through the thick film of oil that covered tho water. It was while carrying out exercises ftbout 21 miles north of Weihaiwei that the collision occurred. The Poseidon came to the surface in a mist. It was then discovered that tho Yuta, a steamer of 1753 tons, was bearing down upon the submarine. A huge hole was torn in her E ide, and in a few minutes she plunged jo the sea bed. 120 ft. below. Those who wero on watch at the time ver e able to scramble through tho hatches as the submarine foundered. They were picked up by the Yuta. The other

24 men went to the bottom in their illfated ship. For a time it was feared that • all of them must-., have perished. But down in the submarine there was a great struggle for life. Dramatic Saving of Men's Lives.

In one of the compartments were six men. When they found that their vessel was'sinking they grasped their one chance of life—the Davis submarine escape apparatus; —and attached it to their bodies. Drawing their supplies of. oxygen from this, they waited, wondering whether they could escape, or whether they would die like rats in a trap. For two and ahalf hours the men waited. Then two of them get away and shot to the surface', where they were \ picked up by British boats. It was three and a-quarter hours after the collision before the others were able to free themselves. Then they, too, were picked up by the British warships. Two of the men who escaped by. the Davis apparatus" died later. They were: A.B. Arthur J. Lovock and Stoker Albert B. Winter. Both were married. Immediately after the disaster the warships taking part in the manoeuvres steamed at full speed to the spot. They found only a'flood of oil and a stream of bubbles to indicate that one of Britain's super-submarines lay, a broken thing, below them. Grappling-irons were thrown out, and at_ length the Poseidon was found. Diving operations were then begun and communication with the trapped men established. The experts were confident that they would be able to raise the submarine. How the Sis Men Escaped. The Davis apparatus, by which six men escaped alive from the Poseidon, is the invention of Mr.-, Robert H. Davis, of London. It consists of a small cylinder of compressed oxygen attached to'the bottom of an inflated bag worn on the chest of the man. He is- prevented from breathing through his nose by a strong clip, and his eves are protected by goggles. In his mouth the man grips a tube and breathes oxygen, which passes from the cylinder through the bag on his chest. During the Admiralty tests it was shown that under the worst possible conditions a man can quickly put on this suit—which is very light and not bulky—and can live for a minimum of half an hour from the supply from the* cylinder attached to the bag. .The apparatus, however, goes even further. Inside the bag, which is made of rubber and fabric, are two miniature cylinders to be used by the man only as a last resort when the supply from the cylinder at the bottom of the bap has become exhausted. Submarines carry large cylinders of oxygen, and it is possible to connect these to the portable apparatus worn by the officers and crew. If the apparatus is connected to these giant cylinders, it is possible to live for a long time. The minimum would be many hours. ~ It was shown in the tests that a submarine crew wearing the portable selfcontained suit can open the hatches of a flooded part of the vessel and reach the surface. Once on the surface the inflated envelope on the chest can be sealed instantly, and it then acts as fin efficient lifebelt. An Unlucky Flotilla. The Poseidon was one of a flotilla of four which met with misfortune soon after leaving Portsmouth for the China station on December 12 last. The other ships in the flotilla were the Perseus, Proteus and Pandora, and just before midnight on December 16 the Pandora and Proteus collided near Gibraltar. The Proteus was damaged aft and the Pandora was holed below the water line. There were rio casualties, and the vessels were docked at Gibraltar for repairs. In previous British submarine disasters since the war a total of 224 lives have been lost. The worst was off Start Point in 1925 when M.l was sunk by a Swedish steamer, 68 men being drowned. A cablegram published on July 3 stated that Lieutenant-Commander Galpin, who w as in command of the Poseidon, had been adjudged by a court-martial of being guilty of hazarding bis ship. He Was sentenced to dismissal and severely reprimanded.