THE MISSING SUBMARINE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1305, 1 October 1914, Page 4

THE MISSING SUBMARINE.

ALL HOPE ABANDONED

The loss of the Australian submarine AEi, which was reported missing a week ago, has not yet been cleared up. It is surmised that the submarine struck a reef, and went straight to the bottom. There the crew would remain alive for 24 hours, which is as long as the air would permit of their living. The AEr was patrolling the entrance to Simpsonhafen, New Britain, and on Monday, September 14th, about s p.m,, the men on a warship saw her cruising about at the entrance. Her patrol duty would be completed at dark, and she would then return to the mother ship. When there was no appearance ot her at dark, signals were sent out by wireless; but evoked no response. This caused alarm, for although her failure to return might have been due to her having seen something suspicious, and having cruised to investigate, it was impossible that she should have got out of wireless range. A fleet of warships was despatched to search for her with sweeping searchlights, and the ! signalling was continued. All around the entrance to Sompsonhafen and in the strait among the islands of the New Britain group, the searcn was kept up without result. The shores were scanned for wreckage, the surface of the water for greasy streaks of oil, but not the faintest clue to her disappearance was obtained.