SUNKEN SUBMARINE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 December 1927, Page 5

SUNKEN SUBMARINE.

HOPE ABANDONED OF RESCUING MEN ALIVE. P/3ss Association- Electric Telegraph-Copyright NEW YORK, Wednesday. Provincctown messages report that while officials are convinced that the men of submarine S 4 are dead, the divers descended this afternoon when the sea was sufficiently calm, but were unable at first to find the vessel, a buoy marking the spot having become loosened. The divers ultimately reached the ship and attached a line and japped in vain on the torpodd compartment. The divers proposed to continue work all night to cut a hole in the submarine’s side and till the torpedo compartment with compressed air in an attempt to make the ship more buoyant:. NO SIGN OF LIFE. YA NCODYE R, Thursday. A message from Provincctown states that after air was pumped into a compartment of the sunken submarine >S4 for live hours, there were no indications of life in the torpedo room, in which six men took refuge. NEGLECT ALLEGED. WASH INO TON, Thursday. Complaints are coming from practically every section of the United States charging the Navy Department with failure to utilise modern inventions to protect the lives of officers and men in submarines. » These complaints resulted in the introduction of a resolution in the House of Representatives for an independent investigation of the S-l disaster irrespective of the Navy inquiry, with a view to legislation for the introduction of safety appliances. NO RESPONSE. (Received Friday, 10.0 .a.m.) NEW YORK, Thursday. A message from Provincctown says that Mr Brumby has finally admitted that he has abandoned all hope of finding anyone alive in the sunken submarine. He said: “J. have not the slightest doubt that there is.no life on the S 4, but we are keeping Washington informed of the activities, and any action towards suspension would eome from there.” Divers completed an extensive survey of the ship, and went carefully over the hull, tapping with hammers, but received no response. An examination revealed that both the torpedo tubes were closed, which indicated that the ■ imprisoned men made no attempt to escape through them.

The rescuers continue blowing air into the hull.