SUNKEN SUBMARINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21710, 30 July 1932, Page 18

SUNKEN SUBMARINE

WILL SHE BE RAISED? SCAPA EXPERT’S CONFIDENCE. Despite the freely expressed scepticism of other authorities, Mr E. F. Cox, the civilian salvage expert, who has been advising the Admiralty on the raising of the ill-fated British submarine M2 off Portland, has given a definite assurance that the submarine will be raised. “In the very unlikely event of the Admiralty giving up," Mr Cox said, “then my firm will lift M2 itself. If it costs me £SOOO of my own money I will get that submarine up” - -Sceptics were ip the offing when Mr Cox first proposed to raise the scuttled German fleet at Scapa Flow, but they eoon changed their tune when he started heaving up destroyers one by one. By the'time,, a couple of battleships had appeared above the surface keel uppermost they were open-mouthed with astonishment. When he went to Scapa, Mr Cox had never raised a ship before. At the fourth attempt he raised the 27,500 tons Hindenburg. With huge blocks of concrete weighing 500 tons’ apiece', built on either side of her to keep her on an even keel lie blew the water put of her with compressed air and up she came. It cost him more than £50,000. W- • Referring to the work on the M2 aMr Cox said: “All the hatcheshave Jbeen sealed with concrete, and we 'are pumping air into the ship for testing- purposes; In order to drain the ship when we fill her with air six htoles have been cut in the outer skin at the bottom of the hull; one for each compartment, and corresponding holes are beipg blasted in - the inner skin. ■ /if ; ‘■ “ We are sealing up any outlets, such : as voice ‘pipes, through ‘ which; we/fiiid air' escaping, and when we' are satisfied, that everything is in order'.then-we shall lift the ship.”- •„ \ . >