THETIS DISASTER ENQUIRY
THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 7, 1989
Escape Chamber Tragedy: An Explanation Suggested
MEN MAY NOT HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH
London, To-day.
A possible explanation of why the four men who preceded him into the escape chamber failed to escape, was given by Mr. F. Shaw, a Cammell Laird expert, and one of the four survivors, at the resumed inquiry into the Thetis disaster yesterday.
Three men were dead when dragged out of the
HOLLAND'S CABINET DIFFICULTY
Amsterdam, To-day,
Dr. Colijn, the ex-Premier, call- ed on Queen Wilhelmina yesterday and asked to be relieved of the task of forming a new Govern-, ment.
re-
The previous Government re- signed owing to differences garding the 1940 Budget,-Reu- ter.
chamber, and the fourth, who was still alive, Prison
told Mr. Shaw that they could not open the
hatch.
Asked if he could suggest any reason why the men were unable to said: Shaw open the hatch, Mr. "When you step into the escape" chamber the water begins to fill up "When you put on the mouth-
and piece for the first time
the water covers your head, you can hardly see and you have a feeling that you are trapped.
EQUAL PRESSURE "You then instinctively put
up
a hand to shove the hatch open.
"If you do that right away it won't open. You must wait until the pressure equalises.
were supplied with photostatic. copies of the message which was sent to the surface in a watertight container
Captain strapped to Oram.
At the time Captain Oram volun- teered to go to the surface by means of the Davis Escape Apparatus it was not known whether the posi- tion of the submarine was known or whether he and Lieutenant Woods would be picked up alive— hence the purpose of the message
which consisted of five small sheets, on the first of which the position of the submarine on the bot- tom and particulars of flooding second "These men may not have wait- were given, and on the
directions were given for the sup- ed long enough."
Mr. Shaw said that he and Lead-ply of high pressure air and for the tightening down of the fore- ing Stoker Arnold had no difficulty
hatch. in making their escape.
Nothing was done to the hatch between the time the four men failed to escape and the time he got out.
NOT WISE
After he escaped he fully expect- and ed the other men to follow, could give no reason why the
others did not come up..
Mr. Shaw remarked that he did not think it wise for four men to have gone into the escape chamber together, as there was not sufficient room to move freely.
Vice-Admiral F. T. B. Tower, Director of Naval Equipment, said a diving trial was certainly not regarded as a moment of danger and risk for those on board..
Pages three and four were de- voted to sketches and the last page bore the words: "Keep a constant watch for men escaping through the after escape chamber.”
British Wireless.
to
PARIS TAXI STRIKE THREAT
Paris, To-day,
EXHAUSTED SPANIARDS. REACH GIB.
Gibraltar, To-day.
►
Sixteen Spaniards swam ashore at Gibraltar yesterday.
They were in an extremely ex- hausted condition, and one died soon afterwards.
It is understood they are former soldiers of the Republican Army who were trying to escape from Spain. Reuter.
For Buckner, Buencamino And Gillespie
New York, To-day. William P. Buckner, American stockbroker, who was convicted of conspiracy and mail fraud in connection with the manipulation of Philippine railway bonds, was yesterday sentenced to two years' imprisonment and fined $2,500. William J. Gillespie, another broker who was con- victed with Buckner, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment and a fine of $2,500.
NOCTURNAL AIR RAID
TO-DAY.
Felipe Buencamino, described as a Philippine legislator, con- victed of conspiracy, was tenced to 18 months' imprison-
ment and fined $5,000.
sen-
Captain John Stuart Hyde, des- cribed as a British ex-Army officer, and one of the original co-defen- dants, and C. Wesley Turner, broker, were acquitted.
Was
The indictment alleged that a committee for the protection of organised, of bondholders which Buckner and Gillespie caus- ed themselves to be elected chair- |man and vice-chairman..
CHUNGKING EXACTLY AT MIDNIGHT THE AIR RAID ALARM SOUNDED, INDICATING THAT CHUNGKING
TO WAS
EXPERIENCE ITS SECOND LONG DRAWN-OUT | NOCTURNAL RAID,
The population streamed out of houses, carrying bundles and mak-
They were alleged to have soli- ing for the countryside and the many dug-outs hewn in the hill-cited the sum of $1,000,000 from bondholders for expenses in con- side.
TRIAL R.A.F. MOBILISATION
At 12.30 the second alarm went, nection with the redemption of the Taxi chauffeurs in Paris threaten and an unknown number of Japan-bonds, and to have converted the Reuter. money to their own, use, o go on strike on August 1st, as ese planes encircled the city.
At 1.45 a.m.- bombs were drop- various undertakings owning taxi- cabs have announced that the col-ped in several parts of the city, It was probably the safest dive lective agreement with the drivers the raiders unloading explosive the submarine would make in her will be terminated on that date. and incendiary bombs."
wish to in- Damage and casualties is not life, because it was deliberately. The undertakings done' in slow time,
crease tariffs to compensate for yet known. The all clear was losses incurred owing to the de-sounded at 2.45 TECHNICAL EVIDENCE
5am.
Trans Technical evidence was also given crease of traffic, whereas the chauf- Ocean. yesterday by officials of Cammell feurs, including driver-owners fear, Laird's regarding the trim of the that such an increase would only vessel and previous surface trials have the result of still further di before the inquiry was adjourned minishing the number of clients. until to-day-Reuter.
It is consequently probable that,
JEWS INTO
London, To-day. The Air Ministry announced last night that during the next three months, R.A.F. reservists are to be called up on a "trial mobilisation."
Simultaneously d large number part in man- oeuvres with the Army and Navy.
Trans-Ocean..
SMUGGLE PALESTINE of reservists will take
"KEEP CONSTANT WATCH” unless agreement is reached before INTO PALESTINE
Before the adjournment, mem- August 1st, taxi services in Paris
幽
bers of the tribunal and counsel will be paralysed. Trans-Ocean.
VACATION?
FOR TRIPS VIA SEA, LAND AND AIR
CONSULT
AMERICAN LLOYD, LTD. TRAVEL SERVICE
TELS. 31175-6
SHELL HOUSE.
Jerusalem, T
To-day.
A new protest against the illegal smuggling of Jews into Pales- tine is contained in a memorandur sent by the Arab - Chamber of
DEPRESSION
Commerce to the British author EAST OF MANILA
tles.
The memorandum points out up wards of two thousand Jews has been smuggled into Palestine with in the last fortnight alone.
The memorandum alleges that res hitherto adopted by
the tan
nment
OB
reports
cyclone.
covers
Tapan and the
depressions cover north-
formed
West