"VIVA IT-”

Wairarapa Age, 13 August 1928, Page 5

"VIVA IT-”

LAST WORDS FROM STRICKEN SUBMARINE. DETAILS OF THE WIRELESS MESSAGES. FUNERAL HONOURS TO VICTIMS AT POLA. United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) ROME, August 11. The bodies of the victims of the disaster to Submarine Fl 4 were interred in the presence of the whole of the armed forces at Pola. The first complete account of the dramatic dialogue preceding the salvage has now been published. The Fl 5, a sister ship of the Fl 4, which was searching for the position, sent out repeated messages to which came a feeble reply from the radio telephone: “We hear you. Come nearer.” Ten minutes afterwards, the following words were heard: “Come nearer; you are too far to the left; turn more right.” Then later: ‘‘We are. at an angle of seventy. Move forward slowly. ’ ’ An hour later this message was heard: “We have dropped all ballast. Tell us if salvage proceeding.” The Fl 5 answered: “Yes, big pontoons and cranes are coming from. Pola. ’ ’ Later in the afternoon,' the following was heard: 41 We twenty-four are safe forward. Three perishpd. Hurry! Gas is coming.” This was followed a few minutes later by “We are breathing gas and suffocating. Hurry!” Then, finally, the last feeble words: “We feel it is all over. Viva It—.” The last word was obviously “Italia,” but it was not completed.—(Australian Press Association.)