THETIS INQUIRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 169, 20 July 1939, Page 7

THETIS INQUIRY

MEANS OF ESCAPE RELIANCE ON THE DAVIS APPARATUS CAPTAIN ORAM'S PLAN (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received July 19, 5.5 p.m. ( LONDON, July 18. On the resumption of the inquiry into the loss of the submarine Thetis a diver, Frederick Orton, describee ! the discovery of the entanglement o . wire with the conning tower. Ht expressed the opinion that this maj ; have interfered with the escape hatch ; He said that he attached a guide . rope, came to the surface, and wa: then ordered to cut the rope and cease diving. . 1 Cross-examined, he said that hi . would have had no difficulty in at taching an air pipe or screwing dowr , the forward hatch in accordance witt Captain Oram’s plan. The Attorney-General read an Ad miralty statement made in .1934 tha it was intended to rely on the Davi, . escape apparatus in preference tc ; waiting in the hope of salvage. Mr. Justice Bucknill: This is quilt at variance with the rescue plai which Captain Oram brought up fo: raising the ship. I am wondering i why the men ceased to escape, ant whether they voluntarily decided t( stay. The Attorney-General: We ait? re calling Captain Oram on that point ATTENDED SCHOOL IN WANGANUI ( Per Press AsTociation.) HAWERA, July 19. . j Flying-Officer D. I. Jobson, killed li ' i an air crash at Corby, was the young I est of three sons of Mr. and Mrs. W Jobson, Hawera. He was educated at the Wnnganu Preparatory and Collegiate Schools 1 and for some time was on the staff o the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency in Hawera. He took a prom inent part in provincial swimmin; championships and surf life-saving After a course of training under Fly ing-Officer lan Keith, he was nomi J nated for the Royal Air Force am •i about three years ago went to Eng earning rapid promotion.