FRENCH ANGER

Southland Times, Issue 20619, 18 October 1928, Page 7

FRENCH ANGER

LOST SUBMARINE MANNER OF SINKING DISCUSSED • INQUIRY TO BE HELD (United Press Assn. —By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 7.35 p.m.) Paris, October 16. The French public are angrily discussing the Ondine as it is now believed that nothing would have been known of the submarine’s fate if members of the crew of the Ekaterina had not been overheard talking in a Rotterdam cafe. The conversation was reported to the French Consul, who has initiated an inquiry to be presided over by the Greek Consul, at which Dutch experts will give evidence. The steamer Albert Leborgne, which picked up the Ekaterina’s wireless message, says that the vital .word “submarine” was suppressed, though it is now evident the submarine was awash when overtaken and sent to the bottom.—Australian Press Association. EVIDENCE OF GREEK CAPTAIN. LOG HELD FOR THREE DAYS. (Rec. 9.45 p.m.) Paris, October 17. The last honours were paid to the crew of the Ondine. A salute .was fired and flowers were thrown on the sea at the spot where the submarine was sunk. Continued inquiry at Rotterdam shows that the captain of the Ekaterina, instead of handing in the ship’s log immediately according to international custom, only delivered it three days later. The log referred vaguely to the encounter with a wreck. Meantime, the captain sailed for Schiedam and had the ship hurriedly repaired, obliterating traces of the collision. When he gave evidence before the Commission of Inquiry he first denied, but afterwards admitted ramming the submarine. The Greek authorities have stated that should culpability be proved he will be dealt with in the severest manner possible. —Australian Press Association. The Greek steamer Ekaterina sank the French submarine Ondine with three officers and 40 men off Oporto on the night of October 3. The master of a French steamer at Rouen reported that he intercepted a wireless message from a foreign steamer saying: “Struck fishing boat or floating wreck.” The position given by the captain coincides with that of the Ondine. Apart from the grief in France at the loss of the Ondine and crew, there was a feeling of soreness regarding the circumstances of the sinking. The Minister of Marine received the news from the French Consul at Rotterdam, who telegraphed that the master of the Greek steamer Ekaterina on arrival there reported colliding with an object off the coast of Portugal between Vigo' and Oporto at 11 o’clock on the evening of October 3. The master said he was unable in the darkness to ascertain the nationality. He cruised backwards and forwards for two hours, but saw no trace of survivors or wreckage. The sea was rough. French officials considered that the usual course would be to await daylight and continue the search, and also thought that the master should have gone to Vigo instead of waiting eight days until his arrival at Rotterdam.