SUBMARINE DISASTER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20793, 12 August 1929, Page 9

SUBMARINE DISASTER

FINDING OF COURT-MARTIAL. COMMANDER ORAM ACQUITTED. (United Press Association.! (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, August -9. (Received August 11, at 5.3 p.m.) A court martial acquitted Commander Oram, who was charged witli contributing to the disaster by negligent navigation of his ship. There was some conflict of evidence regarding the message sent from the bridge to Commander Oram. The defence submitted that the evidence showed that the messenger failed to deliver the ' message.—Australian Press Association—United Service. On July 9 the submarine Ll2 rammed the H 47, and the latter was lost with all hands. Lieutenant Kean, navigating officer of Ll2, was recently court l mnrtialled and found guilty of causing the collision by failing to avoid H-U by altering her course without warning the commander of H 47. At the court martial Commander Oram, of the Ll2 said he was positive that lie did not receive the following message from' the bridge: “H 47 crossing our bow. Can we slow down?” The signalman gave evidence that he heard the message passed below through the speaking tube. Seaman Rogers gave evidence of taking the message. He passed it on to Commander Oram, who nodded assent. Lieutenant Wise, who was with Lieutenant Claud Keen on the bridge, deposed that Keen sent a message down the voice pipe.