Submarine Disaster Feared

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21362, 3 June 1939, Page 17

Submarine Disaster Feared

BRITISH VESSEL FAILS TO RISE ONE HUNDRED MEN ON BOARD RESCUE SHIPS RUSH TO SCENE United Press Association— By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 2, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 2. The new British submarine, 11.M.5. Thetis, after diving during trials oft Birkenhead yesterday, was not seen again. The Admiralty announces that it is taking all possible steps to locate the vessel. The full complement of the Thetis is reported to be fifty-three. Representatives of the builders, Cahimell Laird and Co., are stated to be on board. The Thetis was undergoing her acceptance trials, and she left Caihthcll Laird’s yard in the morning for Liverpool Bay, beyond the Bar lightship at the mouth of the Mersey. She dived at 1.30 h.m. at a point fifty miles off Birkenhead, and was expected to risC to the surface at 4.30 p.m., but no signal was received.

All warships in the vicinity have been ordered to search for tiie vessel. The complement of the Thetis is officially stated to be five officers and forty-eight men, with the builders' representatives in addition. The Thetis was completed and commissioned for duty on March 4, at a cost of £350,000. She was commanded by Lieutenant-Commander G. H. Bolus.

The officers aboard, in addition to Lieutenant-Commander Bolus, are Lieutenants H. Chapman, W. A. Poland and F. O. Woods, Commissioner Engineer R. D. Glen. Captain H. B. Oram, Commander of the Fifth Submarine Flotilla is also aboard. Cammell, Laird and Co. have Issued the following statement:—“We are absolutely in the dark at present. The submarine carried twenty of our staff, in charge of Mr Crout. It also carried a number of Admiralty experts. The Thetis left our yard about 10 a.m., accompanied by a tug. We understand that it is from the tug that the Admiralty received a message stating that something was amiss.” The naval correspondent of the London Press Association states that it is believed that there was a total of one hundred oh board the Thetis.

No message has been received from the Thetis since she dived. The Admiralty at 10 p.m. had no news. Officials stated that every effort was being made to locate the Thetis, which is believed to have sunk in 132 feet of water. It is feared that she may have struck a submerged object, which put all her electrical equipment out of action. Destroyers Speed to Scene A tug and a number of warships are at the spot. The weather to-night is misty. SOS notices were flashed upon the screens of cinema theatres in Weymouth and Portland, recalling the men serving in the First Anti-submarine Flotilla, and the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla to their ships. Eight destroyers of the Tribal class are sailing for the Mersey, from Portland, and the First Anti-submarine Flotilla is preparing to sail during the night. These and the destroyers are ail fitted With the latest seciet detector devices used in under-water operations for locating craft. All the members of the crew of. the Thetis are fitted with the Davis escape apparatus. A later message states that buoys released frpm the ‘ submarine were observed from the air. A report that aircraft had located the Thetis off Great Ormes head and that surface ships are hurrying to the spot to establish communication is not confirmed by the Admiralty. Officials added that aircraft had reported sighting a buoy off Great Ormes head as darkness was falling and suggesting that it might be from the submarine, but there was no confirmation of this from the surface ships searching the area. Marker Buoys Found A later message states that rescue vessels found the marker buoys released from the Thetis. The Admiralty states that in addition to five officers and 48 men three or four other naval officers are aboard the submarine. These, with 20 representatives of Cammell Laird and Co., make 77 persons.

The naval correspondent of the Press Association states that the total aboard the vessel is believed to be 100 in which case the Thetis has sufficient air to remain submerged for 36 hours. It is known there have been several wrecks in the vicinity of the spot where the Thetis dived.

Cammell Laird and Company announced at 6 a.m. to-day that the Thetis is not yet definitely located. It is known where the submarine is likely to be but the area is a large one. The search is continuing. The Admiralty at 3 a.m. issued a list of the ten naval officers and 48 ratings aboard the Thetis. In addition to the five officers above the complement, who are submarine experts, there are also twenty members of the staff of Cammell Laird and a pilot aboard, making a total of 79. The submarines Cachalot and Porpoise are proceeding to the scene carrying a powerful air compressing plant to assist in the salvage. At least 25 warships are proceeding at full speed to the area and those already there are playing searchlights over the area all night in case men should escape by the Davis appartus. Submarine Located A later message states that the Admiralty announces that the Thetis was

located with her stern 18ft out of the water, 14 miles from Great Ormes Head Top. The Admiralty confirms the report that Captain Oram and Lieutenant Woods escaped from the Thetis and are now aboard the destroyer Brazen, which first located the submarine. All the Others aboard the Thetis are alive but there is no official news yet as to whether or not they are trapped. “ALL WELL” REPORTED Cheering News Brought To Surface Uulted Prebs Association— By tSlectric Telegraph-Copyright (Received June 3, 1.37 a.m.) LONDON, Jiirie 2. It is reported that the complement of the submarine is safe. Captain Oram and Lieutenant Woods escaped from the submarine by means of the Davis apparatus and were picked up by the destroyer Brazen, which discovered the Thetis. They reported that all the crew are safe. Relatives, most of whom waited at Cammel Laird’s dockyard all night, were profoundly relieved. Captain Otam was commander of Ll2, which collided With H 47 off the Pembrokeshire coast in 1929, resulting in a loss of 21 of the crew. A later message states that Leading Stoker Arnold and a Cammel Laird Company expert, Mr F. Shaw, came to the surface and Were picked up by the Brazen. They reported "All Well.” The Admiralty announces that there is every hope of getting the others out by means of the Davis apparatus. Captain Oram escaped in order to direct the salvage, and fully report on the condition of the submarine. Cutting Apparatus Suggested An Independent cable message reports that the Admiralty states that the oxy-acetylene apparatus will probably be used later to cut a hole in the stern of the Thetis and thus release the men still aboard. The Liverpool Underwriters Association stated that four tugs are going to the assistance of the Thetis With towing apparatus to raise the submarine. An official said that he understood that six men were now rescued. The Admiralty announce that the Thetis's bow is in 130 feet of water and the stem is sticking out. There is 130 feet of water beneath the Thetis’s stern Which is 18 feet out of the water. The angle is not stated. A lifting and cutting apparatus is en route.