DAVIS APPARATUS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23859, 13 July 1939, Page 11

DAVIS APPARATUS

INSPECTION BEFORE TRIALS FOUND TO BE SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE AT THETIS INQUIRY (United Press Association) (By Electrl Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, July 11. At the Thetis inquiry, L. C. Williamson, assistant director of naval construction, was cross-examined. He said if the Thetis had been fitted with efficient mechanism to prevent the outer and inner doors of the torpedo tubes opening simultaneously, the disaster might not have occurred. Other technicians testified that the inspection of the Davis escape apparatus on March 30 was satisfactory. Mr Justice Bucknill said the probable reason for putting four men into the escape chamber was shortage of time. “ They must have been very much like sardines in a tin,” he said, “ and the apparatus required certain freedom of movement. I don’t think there is the slightest reason to support the theory that there was any panic.”

Lieutenant-commander McVicker demonstrated the difficulties of four men using the apparatus in the chamber. He thought this was the chief cause of its failure. Since 1937 there had been only four complete failures of the apparatus at the training centre at Port Blockhouse from a total of 3279 men. Lieutenant-commander McVicker said it had been a mistake to send four men into the chamber. It was designed for two. Four men would be crushed together, probably affecting ability to breathe out. The crowding might even have doubled up the mouthpiece tubes in such a way that the men could neither breathe in nor breathe out. EVIDENCE OF DIVERS WITHHELD IN MEANTIME (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, July 11. (Received July 12, at 6.30 p.m.) At the Thetis inquiry the Attorneygeneral said that the evidence of the divers who descended at the time of the rescue efforts would not be brought forward at present as it was inconclusive evidence which might become irrelevant if the Thetis were salvaged. He agreed that, in the event of salvage being impossible, - the divers’ evidence should come before the tribunal. It was announced that the salvage vessels Ranger and Zelo and the diving ship Tedworth had gone to Liverpool Bay and the weather is good. The Tedworth is now moored over the Thatis.