THE RESCUE WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 11

THE RESCUE WORK

TERRIFIC DIFFICULTIES EVERYTHING POSSIBLE DONE CURRENTS HAMPER DIVERS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, June 5. The naval inquiry into the Thetis disaster will be held in camera at Portsmouth after salvage has been completed, The memorial service has now been fixed for June 7.

Mr R. S. Johnson, managing director of Cammell. Lairds, gave the first authentic description of the disaster when he explained that number five torpedo tube was either damaged or the forward door was not shut. The crew was not aware of this, and opened the after door and the water overpowered them They tried to shut the door, but the water overpowered them again, and they were able to shut it only partially. They had to skip out of the compartment into the next in order to make sure of closing the bulkhead. The two forward compartments were, therefore, full of water. Nobody was drowned on that occasion. Mr Johnson disclosed that three Lost their lives in the Davis escape hatch. Captain Oram and Lieutenant Woods came out first. Four tried to follow, but foi some reason unknown three were taken back to the rubmarine dead, either from heart failure or drowning.

An Alarming Experience

, Mr Johnson said: " Unless you have strong nerves and are more or less accustomed to the experience it is most alarming to feel the water

creeping over your head. One was taken back alive, but later died. Leading Stoker Shaw and Mr Arnold, of Cammell, Lairds, came up later, but felt pretty bad." Mr Johnson, explained that Captain Oram and Lieutenant Woods came up first because they were the most useful men to direct the rescue Operations. The Admiralty did everything possible to save life. " It wasi the only thing any of us cared about," he said. "The difficulties of the rescue work were terrific, and we had not expected anything like it. We sent out air compressors long before the Admiralty requested them. The salvage party could not use oxyacetylene to cut a hole in the stern, and even if this had been posSible they could not have got the men through. Divers could not get near the submarine's air connections." . , Mr Johnson said Cammell, Laird and Co., was striving to raise the submarine, which must now be nearly full of water. The submarine will be raised from the sea bed gradually and towed to the beach. Replying to criticism that the tests were made where the current was so strong, Mr Johnson said' a submarine must be able to dive anywhere.

A survivor, Lieutenant Woods, has left hospital. He told reporters that the conduct of those entombed was. magnificent. "Breathing was difficult when I left," he said.

FRANCE'S SYMPATHY

PARIS, June 5. President Lebrun cabled his condolences to the King, who replied appreciating France's sympathy. ITALIAN SYMPATHY ROME, June 5. Signor Mussolini instructed the Italian naval attache to convey to the Admiralty the Italian navy's sympathy. The King of Italy cabled his Majesty the deepest sympathy " o'/ myself and the Italian people."