H47 DISASTER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 726, 27 July 1929, Page 1

H 47 DISASTER

SUBMARINE NAVIGATOR PUNISHED DISMISSED, REPRIMANDED (United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Reed. 9.10 a.m. LONDON, Friday. Whether or not all-important verbal messages were delivered to the captain of the Ll2 a few minutes before the collision on July 9 will be decided by a court-martial on Lieutenant Claud Keen, navigating officer of the Ll2, who is charged with having caused a collision by failing to avoid the H 47, altering her course without warning the commander of the H 47. Twenty lives were lost when the H 47 went down. A later message says Commander Oram was positive that he did not receive the following message from the bridge:—“H47 crossing our bow; can we slow down?”

A signalman gave evidence that he heard the message passed below through the speaking-tube. Seaman Rogers gave evidence of taking the message. He passed it on to Commander Oram, who nodded assent. Lieutenant Wise, who was with Keen on the bridge, deposed that Keen sent the message down the voice-pipe. The court found Keen guilty, and dismissed him from the ship, also severely reprimanding him.