NEVER CAME UP

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10979, 19 January 1914, Page 5

NEVER CAME UP

THOUGH SIGNAL GIVEN.

A SUBMARINE DISASTER.

BUBBLES MARKED FATAL SPOT

B; Telef»raph--Prcßs Association—Copyright LONDON, January 17.

During manoeuvres, submarine A 7, Commander Wellman, foundered in seventeen fathoms at midday.

Snlvagers are endeavouring to raise her. The crow was still alive at five o'clock.

When tli© flotilla was ordered to the surface, the submarine did not rise. A warship attempted to communicate with the crew wirelessly, and divers also by tapping, but received no answers after six o'clock.

The catastrophe is attributed to disabled pumps. The salvage parties have returned to port. They will resume, in the morning.

The death roll comprises two officers and nine petty officers and men.

DETAILS OF THE MISHAP.

CRITICISMS OF THE "A" CLASS

LONDON, January 17

There are eleven victims of tho Whitsand Bay disaster. They include Commander Wellman a.nd Sub-Lieuten-ant Robert Morrison. The sea was moderate.

The submarine, accompanied by the Pigmy, attached to the sea-going depot shin Forth, dived for the purpose of firing torpedoes. She remained below an unusual time. TIIO Pigmy's officers became alarmed. They endeavoured to communicate with tho sub-, marine, but elicited no response. Ominous bubbles showed upon the smooth swell over a rocky bottom. A buoy was placed to mark the spot. Tho buoy drifted, but was found. Prompt salvage efforts were made, and continued.

Officials state that rescue is practically hopeless. The oxygen supply is sufficient for six hours.

Two hundred men have perished in ten years in seven British and nine foreign submarine accidents. The newspapers comment on the successive disasters to submarines of the A class, and consider that their frail hulls are unfitted even for the elementary duties they recently have been assigned, namely, exercising within easy reach of the shore. The Admiralty is urged to supersede them forthwith. SWEEPING OPERATIONS. LONDON. January 18. Destroyers were sweeping 011 Sundaytrying to locate the sunken submarine. " Timej."—Sydney " Sun " Special Cables. LONDON, January 17. The A 7 is a sistership and wa3 launched on the same day as the submarine which sank at Plymouth with all hands in 1905. CONDOLENCES.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received January 19, 8.25 a.m.) LONDON, January 18. AH the foreign Powers have sent condolences over the accident to the submarine.