SUBMARINE DISASTER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21359, 12 June 1931, Page 7

SUBMARINE DISASTER

LOSS OF THE POSEIDON COLLISION IN DENSE FOG WRECK LOCATED BY GRAPNELS (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, June 10. After hours of search by other naval vessels the Poseidon was located by grapnels last night. Attempts to-day are being made to raise her by air pressure. Later information now available states that the submarine was struck by the Chinese steamship Yuta, of 953 tons. A Hongkong press message states that the collision occurred in a dense fog. The wreck was located lying in 20 fathoms of water. EIGHTEEN RATINGS MISSING. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 10.' Mr A. V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty), in a statement in the House of Commons, said the commander-in-chief in China, who proceeded to Weihaiwei, reported that the total number now f saved and alive was five officers and 30 men. Two more ratings, who came to the surface, died, and eighteen ratings were missing. All the survivors were picked up by the Yuta shortly after the collision, with the exception of six ratings, who escaped from the wreck by means of the escape apparatus. Of these two subsequently died, arid one is in a critical condition. These men were in a fore compartment of the submarine when she was sunk. The Minister said he was sure ’that all the members of the House would with to associate themselves with the message of heartfelt sympathy which the Admiralty had sent to the relatives. '

SEVERAL FORTUNATE ESCAPES. EFFECTIVENESS 'QF APPARATUS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 10. \ Six men had extremely fortunate escapes by the use of the submarine escape apparatus. Thq efficiency with which this works was indicated by the fact that two j men came to the surface two hours and a-quarter and four, hours and three-quarters after the collision. Apparently they had somehow managed to free themselves from their terrible position down below.

NEiv ESCAPE APPARATUS,

LONDON MAN’S INVENTION. (British Official Wireless.) ) RUGBY, June 10, The new submarine escape apparatus referred to is the invention of a London man (Mr R. J. Davis). In appearance it resembles a lifebelt with a gas mask attached. It is 12 months since the apparatus was first served out as part of the equipment of submarine crews. Each man is fully trained in its use. This is the first time that a disaster has befallen a submarine equipped with this apparatus. A breathing bag, to which a small cylinder of compressed oxygen is. attached, is strapped on the chest, and acts as a lifebuoy. I BUBBLES COMING FROM WRECK. FAINT HOPE FOB TRAPPED MEN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 10. It is stated that bubbles were sden coming from the wreck when it was located. ■ , It is impossible to state at present whether any real hope can be entertained of saving the men below. There is a faint hope that they may be in an airtight compartment, but the suddenness of the collision docs hot encourage such a hope. DRAMATIC RESCUES UNLIKELY REPORT OF SIGNALS DENIED. HONGKONG, June 11. (Received June 11, at 11.30 p.m.) The naval authorities deny a report that signals had been received from a man who was trapped in the submarine Poseidon. They state that there has been ho response to the divers’ tapping and dramatic rescues are extremely unlikely. SUDDENNESS OF DISASTER. VESSEL HOLED TO STARBOARD. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 10. Latest advices received by. the Ad' miralty state that the Poseidon was sunk in a collision whilst operating on the surface in full buoyancy. The vessel was holed to starboard, forward of the conning tower, and sank by the bow in about two minutes. The majority of the crew were able to escape by the conning tower hatch. Divers are now working in from 115 ft to 120 ft of water.