The Fatal Plunge.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 16, 19 January 1914, Page 5

The Fatal Plunge.

SUBMARINE A 7 FOUNDERS DURING NAVAL MANOEUVRES. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United I'Erss Association.] London, January 17. During the naval manoeuvres the suhmrine A 7, in charge of Commander Wellman, foundered in 17 fathoms at niiddav.

Salvagers are endeavouring to raise the vessel.

The crew were still alive at live o’clock.

When the flotilla was ordered to the surface-, submarine A 7 did not rise. A warship communicated with the crew by wireless. Divers also endeavoured to communicate by tapping, but received no answer after six p.m.

The catastrophe is attributed to disabled pumps. The salvagers returned to port, but they will resume work in the morning. The death roll is two officers and nine petty officers and men.

DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.

THE SUBMARINE LOST.

London, January 18

The eleven victims of the Whitsand ‘not Cawsand) Bay disaster include: Commander Wellman and SubLieutenant Robert Morison. The sea was moderate. The submarine was accompanied by the Pigmy, which was attached as a seagoing depot ship. The submarine dived for the purpose of firing torpedoes, and remained below the water for such an unusual time that the Pigmy’s officers became alarmed, and endeavoured to communicate but failed to elicit a response. There were ominous bubbles upon the smooth swell over the rocky bottom, and a buoy was placed to mark the spot, but it drifted, and could not be found. Prompt salvage efforts .vere made and continued fruitlessly by searchlight. The officials stated that practically it wast a hopeless task as- the supply of oxygen was only sufficient to last for six hours.

Two hundred have perished in ten years in seven British and nine foreign submarine accidents. -

The newspapers, commenting on the successive disasters to “A Class,” consider they have such frail hulls as do make them unfitted for the elementary duties recently assigned, namely, of exercising within easy reach of the shore. The Admiralty is urged to supersede this class forthwith.

"The search for the submarine will be resumed at daylight. The depth will forbid of the opening of the conning tower, as the inrush of water would be disastrous.

Destroyers are sweeping the bay, trying to locate the submarine.

FOREIGN CONDOLENCES.

(Received 8.25 a.m.) London, January 18. All the Foreign Powers sent condolences over tho accident.

SSGTSR SHIP MET SAME FATE.

Times—Sydney Sun Special Cables London, January 17.

Tho sister ship of A 8 was sunk at Plymouth, with all hands, in 1905. She was •launched at Barrow on the same dav.