FOR MEN ON SUBMARINE THETIS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1939, Page 5

FOR MEN ON SUBMARINE THETIS

Announcement by Admiralty

ONLY FOUR SURVIVORS FROM COMPLEMENT OF 102

TRAGIC VIGIL KEPT BY RELATIVES OF VICTIMS

By Telegraph.—-Press Association.- -Copyright.

LONDON, June 4. The Admiralty has officially abandoned hope of saving the crew of the British submarine Thetis, which foundered while on her trials on Thursday. Salvage work is proceeding, but the builders, Cammell Laird and Company, announce that there is no hope of saving further life. It is considered that the occupants, except four who escaped and one who probably was drowned in an attempt to escape, have died of the effects of chlorine gas. According to a British official wireless message, it now transpires that, including 29 technicians, there were 102 men on the Thetis, of whom only four escaped. The limited time available between the tides rendered impracticable the operation of cutting a hole' in the stem of the vessel when it was showing above the water yesterday.. Attempts have been continued today to get the submarine into a horizontal position with the aid of ‘ camels, with the ultimate object of beaching her, the Government agency adds. One of those who escaped, a Cammell Laird expert, Mr Shaw, stated that gas, by which he was affected, was spreading when’he escaped. The occupants were sprawling in the various compartments as he entered the escape chamber, but t.heie was no panic. Everyone was behaving magnificently and weie most optimistic. Many relatives of the entombed men refused to abandon hope and waited at Cammell Laird’s offices throughout the night. The strain of waiting affected wives and mothers as the hours wore on, and ambulances frequently were called in to restore some of those pathetically waiting. Relatives who had gone home at dawn received telegrams from Cammell Laird’s a few hours later asking them to return to the office. Upon assembling they were informed that the firm regretted it could not hold out hope for the safety ol the remainder. A distressing scene followed, women fainting and others weeping on the shoulders of strangers. The British Broadcasting Corporation’s religious service at the commencement of today’s broadcasting included prayers for those entombed and their relatives.