PLUVIOSE DISASTER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7140, 30 May 1910, Page 7

PLUVIOSE DISASTER

KING GEORGE'S SYMPATHY

IMPOSSIBLE FOR CHEW TO BE ALIVE.

By Telegraph—Press Association- .Copyright. LONDON, -May 28. King George has sent to the President of France (M. Faliiorcs) a message of sympathy in connection with tho disaster to the submersible Pluviose (sunk in the. Channel through a collision with the steamer Pas do Calais). Tho commander of the steamer Pas de Calais states that ho saw tho periscope of the submarine five yards ahead, and reversed his vessel's engines and altered her course without avail. The movements of the Pluviose showed that her crew was endeavouring to get tho vessel on a level keel. STORY AND DENIAL. One diver who went down affirms that he heard knocking, and ho believes tho crow is within the watertight compartment, in which there is air sufficient for thirty hours. An emphatic denial, however, is given to this statement by the authorities. Since tho disasters to tho French vessels Farfadet and Lutin French submarines have been fitted with buckles. It is suggested that the Pas de Calais should have immediately attached a hawser to the buckle and prevented tho Pluviose sinking. 1 ADMIRAL'S INVESTIGATIONS. Admiral de Lapeyrere, Minister for Marino, has personally investigated tho disaster, lie states that the Pluviose rose to the surface owing to thei-com-mander's supremo but fruitless effort to right the vessel, which • was failing rapidly. It is impossible for tho crew to bo alive. A strong current running parallel to tho coast carried the submarine within tho mail steamers' daily track. The currents are still impeding the work of the divers. Moreover, the Calais tugs are not powerful enough to be effective, and the arrival of tugs from Cherbourg is being awaited. Divers in their latest descents failed to locate the Pluviose, owing to tho strong current? NARROW ESCAPE. PARIS, May 2S. The submarine Circe, while off Toulon, on rising to the surface, narrowly escaped being cut in halves by tho ] guardship Admiral Trehouart.