UNSPARING EFFORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 June 1939, Page 8

UNSPARING EFFORTS

ALL RESOURCES OF NAVY EMPLOYED NINETY MEN STILL ON BOARD. EFFORT TO LIFT VESSEL'S STERN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, Noon.) LONDON, June 2. A grim battle against hope is being waged hour after hour with all the resources of the Royal Navy, including divers flown from Speke airport and then taken in a de- , stroyer to the scene of the Thetis submergence. Those still aboard are 12 officers, 47 ratings, 25 members of the Cammell Laird staff, and three Vickers Armstrong employees, one pilot and two caterers.

Relatives remained outside Cammell Laird’s offices throughout the day. some with babies in their arms. An outstanding figure among them was Mrs. Bolus, wife of the sunken submarine’s commander, who, disdaining to utter a word about her own anxiety continually urged wives not to abandon hope.

Meanwhile warships, destroyers and all varieties of rescue craft encircled the spot where the Thetis went down ominous patches of oil indicating her whereabouts. A forlorn hope, after other resources had been defeated, was the employment of pontoons in an effort to lift the stern. This measure was essayed because the stern did not appear as anticipated when the tide slackened. It is learned that a dangerous type of tidal wave, prevalent in Liverpool Bay, was observed when the submarine originally submerged. Weather conditions for the salvage operations otherwise are perfect. The most hopeful report thus far is that a valve has been fitted to the conning tower of the Thetis in order to fix an air line for pumping in compresesd air.

HAWSERS PART SUBMARINE NOW RESTING ON SEABED. WIFE INFORM RD O" DEATH OF HUSBAND. (Received This Dav. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON. June 2. Hawsers parted after attachment to the hull of the submarine. The vessel

now rests on the seabed, on an even keel. Dense crowds, becoming more restive, thronged the roadway outside Cammell Laird’s as the night wore on. The submarine depot at Gosport telegraphed to Mrs. Caroline Hole, whose husband, Stoker Wilfred Hole, is aboard the Thetis: “Regret to inform you that Stoker Hole is believed to have died while endeavouring to escape.” The wife collapsed on receipt of the news, which, however, is subject to official confirmation. “The Times” understands that the hull is insured for £350,000 and the armament for £75,000.