THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 20, 1939.
Page
DIVERS CRITICAL OF THETIS RESCUE EFFORTS Passage-At-Arms Between A.G. And Witness Dramatic And Heated
Session
London, To-day. Yesterday's session of the Thetis enquiry was one of the most dramatic and heated yet held. In addition to a passage-at-arms between the At- torney-General, Sir Donald Somervell, and a witness, evidence strongly criticising the sal- vage methods employed was given by divers. The term "terrible disclosure" was used by a diving expert when the Attorney-General revealed that the forward hatch of the submarine was not fitted with fastening clips, and another diver said that a hole could have been burned through the hull and the inside tank in 15 minutes.
The enquiry is to be adjourned seven minutes he could have burn- after further evidence by Captain ed a hole in the outer hole of the Oram, one of the survivors, until submarine, and another hole in the it is known whether the salvage inner tank in the same time. attempts will be successful.
An intimation to this effect was given by Mr. Justice Bucknill, who said there was a reasonable
pro-
spect and he wished to hear evidence from the divers now engaged who might be able to reveal new facts.
RUSHED FROM SCAPA
A dramatic account of how three deep sea divers rushed from Scapa Flow by motorboats, cara and aero- planes, was given by Mr. Thomas Mackenzie, -their chief...
Mr. Mackenzie for 14 years has been engaged in raising the sunken German fleet.
-He was working on the Derflinger. at the time and immediately offered his services to Cammell Laird's
They first said that everyone on board was safe, but later he was told that the situation was desperate, and the Admiralty accepted offer.
his
་
SHARP PASSAGE
be-
A passage-at-arms occurred witness during testimony by an- tween the Attorney-General and a
worked on raising the German war- other salvage expert, Mr. Cox, who
ships at Scapa.
Cox asserted that if salvage men with experience of compressed air were on the spot, it would have stern of Thetis and connect them been easy to drill holes in the
to an air compressor and force air into the submarine.
When the stern was on the sur- face it should have been left alone. The stern would have stayed up for days, weather permitting.
"We had ships at Scapa Flow standing with one end up for months,” he said.
STAGGERED
J
The youthful son of Chang, Hsueh-liang, the "Young Marshal," is being trained as an aviator at Southampton. When he finishes his course of instruction and qualifies as a pilot, he intends to visit the United States for experience, and then take up a commission in the Chinese Army. Photo shows young. Chang off for a flying les son at Southampton airport.
ITALIAN ASSURANCE TO SWISS
Berne, To-day. The Foreign Minister has in- formed the Federal Council that Italy has given i 1 assurance that Swiss subjects forced to leave the Southern Tyrol will be com- pensated fairly and will not be. treated worse than German-speak- ing Tyroliana-Reuter.
tow a marking-buoy to show its position, and civilians attending
When the Attorney-General told Two divers at the · time were Cox that the forward hatch of working 23 fathoms below the sur-Thetis was not fitted with fasten- face. He ordered them up anding clips, Cox declared he was trials will have an opportunity of they removed their diving dress staggered. while being rushed ashore in motorboat. Then they hurried to the scene of the disaster.
HEARD TAPPINGS:
Mr. Sinclair and Mr. Mackenzie were the first Scapa Flow divers to reach the Thetis.
Mr. Mackenzie described landing on the hull of the sunken submarine, Everything was total darkness. He got hold of something which he was afterwards told was the wireless mast and 'slid down it.
making practice escapes in a tank He added that his plan of salv-with the Davis apparatus, ing the submarine would not have worked "in 'view of this terrible disclosure."
The Attorney-General interposed and said Cox was not entitled to make observations of that sort.
He added that a phrase like "terrible disclosure" was not justified, and did a certain amount of harm to uninstructed people. Reuter.
In addition the number of men on, "board the submarine during trials will be closely scrutinised. Reuter.
THANKS PALI
· London, To-day.
Questions on the "Thetis disaster were put to Mr. Geoffrey Shake- speare, Parliamentary Secretary the Admiralby, in the House” Commons yesterday.
Mr. Shakespeare was asked whe ther he realised that the public will be quick to appreciate that the les
NEW ADMIRALTY RULING He hammered on the hull and
London, To-day. heard faint tappings, but the tide
In the House of Commons yes- was too strong to stay in one terday, Mr. Geoffrey Shakespeare, position long and he could not con- Parliamentary Secretary to the Ad- sons arising out of the disaster centrate on listening to the
miralty, been dec
Mr. Mackenzie criticised the of the
pings.
failure to keep th
above water. No
have been done
been supporte
IMPORTANT SAFETY PROPOSALS
London, To-day.
Evidence of a
an important Ad- miralty witness, Admiral Sir Martin Bunbar-Nasmith V.C., was heard at yesterday's inquiry, during which it was revealed that a committee on submarines had been set up and had already made safety recom- mendations.
are an
L
Amongst the recommendations
investigation of the im provement in air conditions in submarines device to prevent bulkhead-doors from jamming changes in the method of expelling wser from flooded-compartments by the blast of compressed air, and
forth
Ing dealt with this aspect of the matter the witness emphasised that submarine personnel had, however always concentrated rather on the efficiency of the sub- marine and its fighting. that it had have been taken to heart by the
than on a study of meth the report Admiralty and that the obvious con- Thetis dis- clusions which have been
ting out drawn 1 Casal capable from the disaster have been 80
Submarines promptly put into effect. attend div Mr. Shakespearo thanked
questioner for his observ:
submarine will British Wireless
lities