CONFLICT OVER STATE OF WEATHER WHEN LINER GROUNDED

Chronicle (Levin), 16 April 1947, Page 5

CONFLICT OVER STATE OF WEATHER WHEN LINER GROUNDED

Press Assn

By Telegraph

i.-Copyright

Received Wednesday, 10 a.m. LONDON, April 15. Tugs at high tide, about 6.30 p.m. (G.M.T.) pulled the Queen Elizabeth (85,000 tons), the world's largest liner, off the sand bank where she grounded in Southampton water. Earlier, following the discharge of her fuel and unloading of the baggage and 620 first class passengers, the liner's bows lifted four feet. Divers have been standing by with Lloyds' agents ready to make a thorough investigation, as it is possible that some of the vessel's plates are strained.

Twelve tugs with a full head of steam faiiea to move the Queen Elizabeth at high tire at 6.22 a.m. (G-.M.TJ They made four attempts within an hour. ; Foggy or Clear Weather A Calsnot resident's statement made yesterday, that the Queen Elizabeth grounded in clear wea-, ther, was given to the Press Asso-; ciation. Tne Times also said that the weather was clear. The Telegraph' said that visibility was four miles. The Express and some others, including the Standard said that the PTOunding occurred during fog. The Cunard Line refused to make a statement on the weather, but the preponderance of evidence seems to be that there was fog eariier in the day, but that the weather was clear when the liner; grounded. • i Liner Stopped Dead ! When the Queen Elizabeth ; grounded watchers ashore saw her: suddenly stop dead. Black smoke belched from the funnels as she turned on all power in a vain effort to wrench herself free from the, bank. v j Hundreds waiting to meet the liner drove to Southampton Water entrance to watch the rescue tugs., The bank is in an intricate chan- 1

nel where the Aquitania groundec. in 1935, and the Majestic, then the world's largest liner, stuck n, year later. Ten tugs were needed to pun the Aquitania, which is half the Queen Elizabeth's tonnage, inio deep water.