Submarine Disaster.

Waikato Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1401, 20 January 1914, Page 5

Submarine Disaster.

—4 } / THE UNLUCKY A OLJtfSS,

“COFFIN—SHIPS.’’

Received 9.45 a.m. London, Jan. 19. The Admiralty has ordered that the A 7 submarine must be found. Twelve torpedo boats) with nine divers, are scouring the seabed. Torpedo-finding hawsers are being employed.

Ten square miles were covered on Monday.

It is feared in some quarters that the quicksands of Whitesand Bay have swallowed the submarine. Naval experts complain that the tender accompanying the submarine was not fitted with wireless and thus it was not able to summon help immediately. They also complain of the absence of lifting ships similar to those in' the German and French navies.

Berlin, Jan. 19* Naval experts here consider the Admiralty’s criminal neglegence was responsibe for the submarine disaster. Some newspapers describe the A class as "coffin-ships.’’

Reed- 11.45 a.m* London, Jan. 19,

The further search for the submarine again failed. The Evening News, purporting to give official views, states that the A class submarines are not dangerous to the working them.

Owing to the depth of the water it is impossible for any apparatus to raise a submarine within 24 hours.

If the men are asphyxiated the submarine should have risen automatically. If embedded in sand it had sufficient power to release itself. There was no delay in signalling.