1939-07-04 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 4, 1989.

THETIS INQUIRY

Page

DOOMED MEN'S "VERY

GALLANT

Dramatic

Evidence By Captain Oram

London, To-day.

BEHAVIOUR"

Sir Donald Somervell, who appeared for the Ad-

NAZI I.R.A. THEORY

London, To-day,

A Nazi press despatch alleges that there is a conspiracy between the Irish Republican Army ter- rorists and Scottish Nationalists. The despatch says that the two

to co-operate "with a view to freeing the Irish and Scottish na- tions from English oppression!"

Our Own Correspondent.

miralty when the Thetis Inquiry was opened anti-English groups have agreed yesterday, continued his description of events in the doomed submarine.

After several attempts to escape from Thetis had

failed, Sir Donald said, it was decided to await

sending anyone to the surface until daylight, UNEMPLOYED and to spend the night lightening the ship.

By midnight the air started to get foul, and there SHOW A

was weakness and other signs of physical dis- tress among those on board.

Ten tons-of-fresh water were partment. pumped out, and this brought the

He added: "That did matter, as stern to the surface at about 7 one did feel hunger.” o'clock the next morning.

+

The situation was then acute, and many of the men distressed.

DECREASE

London, To-day.

THETIS

SALVAGE DIFFICULTY

LONDON, TO-DAY. NAVAL CIRCLES HINT THAT THE ADMIRALTY, FOLLOWING THE

UNSUCCESSFUL AT- TEMPTS TO RAISE THE SUB- MARINE THETIS, MAY MAKE NO FURTHER ATTEMPT TO SALVAGE THE SUNKEN VESSEL.

The operation is an extremely difficult one, for there is only one hour on every tide in which the divers can work on the intricate job of fixing chains and hawsers to her.

As forecast by the Minister of Describing the reason why no

Labour in the House of Commons getting men went to the surface during unemployment debate on Friday, were the night of June 1, Captain Oram returns issued last night show an-

said there was a strong tide and it would have meant certain death other considerable decline in the unless ships were in the near numbers of registered unemployed. | run so fast. vicinity.

Captain Oram (one of the four survivors) volunteered to go to the surface with salvage instruction strapped to his arm, so that if he did not survive, the message might be found.

HEARD DEPTH CHARGES

Captain Oram added that whèn he surfaced he felt entirely hopeful of the others being able to escape, as his own escape. had presented no difficulty.

MAJOR DISASTER

There was a call for volunteers, and Captain Oram chose Woods, on account of the latter's expert know- ledge of submarines.

These two laboured their way must have operated the apparatus through the submarine, and one got incorrectly.

In his opinion the three. men drowned in the

chamber escape

in than Scapa Flow, for, although Liverpool Bay is harder to work heavier seas are experienced at Scapa, there are long periods of complete calm, and the tide does not

ates the number of insured persons fore, offers a serious problem,

The Minister of Labour estim-to the nearest shallow beach, there- The operation of dragging Thetis

in employment in Great Britain at Our Own Correspondent. June 12 was about 12,810,000, an increase of 143,000 over the pre- vious month, and on a comparable basis about 600,000

year ago.

**

an indication of conditions.by the Asked to suggest the reason why employment totalled. fact that 15 minutes clapsed before no further men escaped, Captain they had enough breath to enter the Oram said: "I can only - had enough breath 'to enter the that a major disaster occurred to escape chamber.

Виррове

of

the

the men inside the submarine." It was just after they entered Asked about the possibility the chamber that they heard depth cutting a hole in the stern charges, indicating that the sub-submarine (18 feet of which was marine had been located..

above water at one time), Captain Oram declared that to cut a hole in the after-compartment was high- Captain Oram and Woods came was only just showing above water, ly dangerous, as the compartment to the surface and were picked up and the submarine was artificially by the destroyer Brazen, and sub-held up by a single wire. sequently another four men were

FOUND DEAD

put in the escape chamber.

It is not known what happened,

but they did not escape. Three

were found dead when the door

“MEMORY WILL LIVE

WITH ME"

With a tremor of emotion in his

men' on board.

ROUGH SEAS

4

British Wireless says that more than a statement issued on the salvage .

operations in Liverpool yesterday says that no work has been pos

On the same date registered un-sible over the week-end owing to

strong winds and rough seas. comprising 1,098,793 wholly un-light and westerly, and the lifting 1,349,579, In the morning the wind was employed, 195,625 temporarily laid craft. Zello was moored over the off and 55,161 normally in casual wreck by the salvage steamer employment.

Ranger-

In Parliamentary answers yes. the month before and 453,838 less to the Admiralty, said that opera

The total was 142,708 less than terday the Parliamentary Secretary than a year ago, British Wire-tions would commence as soon as

less.

MUTINIES IN MANCHUKUO

Chungking, To-day.

weather conditions were saitable.

CHURCHILL RUMOUR DENIED

London, To-day. probability that Mr. Wins-

ton Churchill will asked to join

An anti-Japanese movement the Cabinet, was semi-officially

is on foot among the kuo" troops, according

was opened and the one man alive voice, Captain Oram spoke of the was too exhausted to explain the "very gallant behaviour of all the circumstances.

Then two more men entered the I saw no sign of panic at chamber and they escaped, and told time. Whenever there was formation from reliable source

crew were

the commander of H.M.S. Brazen work to be done I heard the men that the rest of the coming up.

It

was impossible to say why no more succeeded in escaping, and whether this was due to increasing weakness or to some further ac cident.

talking and joking until the foul ported from Kirin.

Many mutinies have been

revolt was staged by kuo" units under the Teung Halen and Chin near Tunhua, Kirin, on June 24.

air caused them to keep quiet.

"They showed a quiet bravery the memory of which will live with me for ever."

The inquiry was adjourned until to-day - (Tuesday) —Reuter.

British Wireless adds that while SURVIVOR'S DRAMATIC STORY Sir Donald –– Somer ell's statement and the evidence added further de-

Captain Oram added », dramatic tall and details to the Attorney-General's 'is' picture when he gave evidence

Captain Oram said

my were.

rescue Vess submarinë.

the funda

ont

an

“Manchukuo” and Japanese police corps sent to quell the re volt were enticed in the hills-ly ing about sixteen kilometres southwest of Tunhud, where they

subjected to a Some 200 of action, while captured

ed by a firing

den

COOPER

ted out

Mr. been ap

ble quar- unlikely

propose ange-in"

BARTKAT MOV

MANK HERITAGE