SUBMARINE DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1921, Page 2

SUBMARINE DISASTER

BY TELEGRAI'H —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. AN AUTHORITY’S OPINION. DISTRESSING SCENES. LONDON, January 24. Rear Admiral Hall, who commanded submarines during tile war, expresses the opinion that Submarine. K 5 was lost owing to rapid diving in deep water. Probably the loss was due to a delay in checking the downward momentum, the submarine thus being crushed and unable to use her. signalling plant. Admiral Hall adds thus: “K submarines are delicate vessels. They are really ‘freak’ boats.” There ' were distressing scenes at Portsmouth where there were tearful processions of widows and sweethearts to the dockyard gates, many refusing to accept the announcement that all grades were. lost. v AN UNSTABLE SUBMARINE. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, January' 24. It is stated at Portsmouth that submarine K 5 gave trouble after refitting. A former member of the crew says the vessel dived at a steep angle at Rosyth in May last and remained down for two hours. Beaumont, chief engine room artificer, who perished, stated that the submarine dived all right in shallow water “but God help us when she goes down in deep water.”