SUNKEN SUBMARINE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 24 December 1927, Page 5

SUNKEN SUBMARINE.

OPERATIONS CEASE. CRITICISM BEING PELT. Press Association-Electric Xelearanli"Copyright NEW YORK, Friday. A United Press message states that salvage operations were abandoned last night, after the rescuers had definitely determined that all on board the SI were dead. It is reported that the submarine will Tie allowed to remain submerged until the spring. The present weather conditions are responsible for this decision. An official statement said the wreck might be raised before the spring “if we were willing to kill several divers.” The official explanation of the entire attempt at rescue says “the weather beat us.” Protests have continued from several quarters, particularly the families of several officers anu men on board the submarine, and the Navy Department yesterday issued a long expert report indicating the impracticability of many suggested* safety devices, stressing the fact that efforts are being centred on an effort to make submarines more dependable as the best safety device. The volume of criticism in connection with the SI tragedy is making itself felt in naval circles and official quarters generally, rank and file. People do not mention the families of tho officers and men of the dead crew, and cannot understand why normal precautions against collision are not taken, the absence of safety devices, and tho dilatoriness of efforts at rescue. It is believed the incident will react to the injury of the service generally, and following on the heels of the introduction of the naval programme it is not difficult to comprehend the growing alarm among officials who had hoped to get a programme at least in large part without any sueli compliet-aion as a major ship disaster, accompanied by vigorous persistent questions challenging the efficiency of the entire service.