1939-07-12 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 12, 1939

THETIS DISASTER ENQUIRY

Page

"Did Not Like Look of Dive"

BECAME HEAVY

QUICKLY AFTER

Charge

Against

APPEARING LIGHT "Times"

London, To-day.

"

London, To-day.

LESS CONSCRIPT LABOUR

Berlin, To-day.

Considerable restriction of com- pulsory labour on works of, na- tional importance in Germany will result from an order just issued by

im-

Divers have discovered damage to the forepart of THE fact that a letter Field Marshal Goering, requiring

the submarine Thetis as she lies on the seabed

proof that work declared of to "The Times" from portance to the State, is as urgent in Liverpool Bay, and have found evidence con- influential members of as it is claimed to be. cerning the position of the bow caps.

the Liberal opposition execution of the present programme -In circles concerned with the The Attorney-General, Sir Donald Somervell, re-sharply criticising the of work, it is believed that the vealed this when the inquiry was resumed yes- Prime Minister has not number of workers conscripted will terday, but he carefully stressed that evidence been printed, has arousers sat free to resume their normal be substantially reduced and work- was so far inconclusive.

ed much indignation.

~ Evidence that there were 131 Davis escape sets on board for the complement of 103, was given by a naval expert.

"The Times" is well known for

its close relations with the Gov-

ernment.

The "Daily Express" and the "News Chronicle" print the let- ter rejected by "The Times"

occupations.--Trans-Ocean.

LIBEL ACTION

Lt. Coltart, who was on duty relaying heavy ground moorings with the accompanying tug, des- and passing wires under Thetis. cribed the Thetis' last dive, and Tedworth has reported that she violation of the freedom of opin- said that Thetis opened the main, moored over the submarine at 9ion. -vents.

a.m. and weather conditions were- good."

and accuse the latter journal of BY POLITICIAN

The submarine-seemed light, and: the bows went down slowly.

She submerged until the gun was awash, and regained this depth

· in 50 minutes.

Then Lt. Coltart saw an air splash --and Thetis dived horizontally and

fairly fast.

BAD SIGN

He expected. Thetis to re-appear at periscope depth,

He did not like the look of the dive because Thetis became. heavy so quickly after appearing light.

Three quarters of an hour later, as there was no sign of the peris- cope, he sent a signal to shore ask- ing for information regarding the duration of the dive.

Lt. Coltant explained that, his -purpose was to convey his anxiety without causing alarm which he did not feel.

COMMUNICATIONS BAD He added that he could not get through to the shore at the time: Communication was very bad, and the tug's radio-telephony set was

very weak.

While they were still trying to Establish contact, Fort Blockhouse radioed the scheduled duration of the dive and Lt. Coltart knew then' that it was realised Thetis was overdue.

Lt. Coltart declared that from then unil 9.10 p.m., when the des- troyer Brazen arrived, there was no sign of a smoke candle or other' distress signals from the sub- marine.

MARK BUOYS

A piece of wood with cotton waste was sighted, and Lt. Coltart reported it, thinking the aubmar- ine might have run out of smoke candles and fired that.

At three o'clock next morning a salvage ship arrived......... Two mark buoys were reported, but had noth- ing to do with. Thetis."

-}

-Paris,-To-day.

the House of Deputies and for- M. Marcel Deat, member of

mer Air Minister, told pressmen last night that he is suing the

Both newspapers demand plain statement from the Prime The lifting craft Zelio proceeded Minister, whether criticism of his to the scene in Zello had been in dock at Birken- REASON FOR GRIEVANCE

the evening. policy is not permitted. head since last Saturday, when she had to return with bollards dam- some

The dispute aged in a gale last week while she printed a letter from a leading manite" for 500,000 francs dam-

days ago "The Times" que" and was moored over the submarine.-member of the Liberal opposition British Wireless.

es each,

COUNT CIANO'S SPANISH TOUR

Barcelona, To-day.

on

"Epo

arose because Conservecomm«Hu-

rebuking Liberal attacks on Mr. Chamberlain.

Several well-known Opposition Liberals thereupon sent a letter to "The Times" stressing their

→

The action follows publication by the two journals of a statement that M. Deat knew "certain Ger- man personages.”

M. Deat some time ago had writ-

right to criticise. Trans-Ocean. ton that Frenchmen, should not die

NEW CRUISER LAUNCHED

The Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, accompanied by the Spanish Minister for the Interior, Senor Suner, motored to Tarra-. gona yesterday.. --Count Ciano-laid a wreath the war memorial and took the salute at a military parade. He also unveiled a monument to Caesar Perth.. Augustus, to replace the former H.M.S. Perth will make her first War.--Trans-Ocean. monument destroyed in the Civil voyage to the United States,

Trans-Ocean.

London, To-day. The Duchess of Kent yesterday christened a new cruiser H.M.S.

Fishy Story About Salmon Labels

London, To-day.

for Danzig, and the two journals accused him with being connected with Germans... Trans-Ocean.

PREMIER NOW HON. AIRMAN

London, To-day.

The appointment of Mr. Neville Chamberlam as honorary Commo- dore of the R.A.F. is contained in the London Gazette."

Official publication follows an announcement to that effect made at the inauguration of the Bir- mingham civil aerodrome last week.

Mr. Chamberlain' is now honor ary Commodore of the 916th Squa- dron of the Auxiliary Air Force. Trans-Ocean.

London, To-day. Sir Nevile Henderson, British

Mr. T. Johnston (Labour) drew the attention of

Mr. Oliver Stanley, President of the Board of Ambassador in Berlin, who recent- Trade, in the House of Commons yesterday toy returned to London to consult tins of Japanese salmon stamped with the word his medical advisers, arrived back in Berlin yesterd British Wire- "Can" and with a convertible label carrying leas the words "foreign produce" and "Empire pro- duce.

The Egyptian For

Mr. Stanley, replying, understood. He suggested that Mr. Johnston Yehia Pasha, arrived Lt. Comm. MacVicker, instruc- that where unlabelled tins of for- furnish particulara if the practice day from Belgrade.. tional officer in the Davis escape sign produce bear the word "Can" led to doubt in the purchaser's mind Political apparatus, in evidence, said he con at the time of importation; they regarding the origin of goods. any special import sidered a mistake was made in are not released from Customs sending four men into the Thetis' charge unless an indication of ori- escape chamber as the chamber gin is also affixed was only made for two. Reuter

FURTHER ATTEMPT TO SALVAGE "THETIS"

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