1939-09-17 — Page 5

EMBER 17, 1939.

Series of

e First Of a Thrilling Special Series of Great Adventures by Men

o Missed Death by Inches

CAPE FROM

SUBMARINE

penetrated the to work under water, holding my

teries in the mid- it and formed sh was percolat- -room and caus- choking sensation

mined to make a to escape. It was that I might have gering and lone-

led me on. I be- shly on the clips h closed-fittings

-Chlef Petty he was in the

rfly screws on a

OPEN

one of the two that stretched

breath at the last moment.

I decided to try the torpedo tubes first as the means of inlet by opening them the merest crack.

As I set about attempting to open them with a wheel spanner a terrify- ing thought struck me. When a tor- pedo speeds through the water after being released from its tube it soon becomes "live," so that the slightest impact on its head causes it to de- tonate.

If I opened the tube would the water running into the force of vessel through the tube have a simi- lar effect? I decided not to take the risk and abandoned this idea.

Next I tried to let water in through the engine's circulating system and the exhaust. I groped about in pitch darkness--for by now the pilot light had also failed feeling my way by, familiar parts of the machinery" until I found the weed-trap of the circulating inlet. This is a contrivance

for preventing weeds from being washed into the engine jacket in the water used for cooling the engines. But the butterfly nuts wouldn't budge.

I then climbed on to the top of the engine to try to drop the induc- tion valve. While in that position 1 was quite near to the hatch through which ultimately I should escape.

ANTICIPATING AN INRUSH

I was surprised to find that even the small quantity of water that had travelled into the engine-room through the voice pipes had' in- creased the air pressure sufficiently to enable me to move the hatch up- wards slightly.

As I paused to rest for a minute or two I could not help thinking how ironical it was that, although I was virtually surrounded by water, I was having to exercise every fea- sible method to get water into the compartment to serve my purpose.

'I now determined to open the deadlight in the steel watertight door leading into the midship com- partment where my comrades had been drowned only an hour or two before. A deadlight is the metal shut- ter which covers a porthole.

Before carrying out this next move nd then discon- I stood well back, rightly anticipat- gearing used in ing a heavy inrush of water, and ces to open the then kicked hard at the fastenings. a hand-operated

ship's steering- NEARLY CHOKED

ve done to have BY GAS

s the water by

At last the deadlight came loose, Ady to open the

and immediately there was a swirl of reached the top

a strangling puff of and I should water and

chlorine gas that nearly choked me. To make matters worse the water was electrically charged, an unfore- seen complication caused by the cur- rent "shorting" through the water from the main motor switches.

Higher and higher the water rose wn to operate it, and as it washed round my knees I

the hatch

for

to find a way

partment.

going to be an

water into the

less controlled

uld have time. to

critical moment mounted the iron ladder leading to bent

was com- the hatch.

ressure upwards I decided to move the second steel Vardo.

girder in case there wasn't room for i probably have me to get through.

By now the rising water was caus- ing an air pressure sufficient to raise I stood at the top the hatch a little. of the ladder and heaved. But so far the pressure was not sufficient to force the hatch open wide enough for me to be blown through, as I ex- pected to be.

Still the water crept upwards. Again I heaved at the hatch and this time I got my hand caught in it as it opened and closed again with a sucking snap. I heaved against and

managed to release it. It was badly crushed, but I hardly noticed the pain.

Now I resolved to hasten the com- plete flooding of the engine room. I knocked the dogs off the deadlight and a fresh flood of water rushed in. It reached my chest, my neck, my chin. I clambered

up the again.

STEADY MARKETS

London, To-dny.

Loans continued fully adequate for all requirements on the London money market yesterday.

Apart from the high level of bank- crs' deposits, outside institutions also appeared amply supplied with loan- able funds.

This comfortable monetary position resulted in some easiness in discount rates early in the week, but with the bank rate maintained at four per cent., a steadier tendency latterly was in evidence.

Page 6.

JAPAN HAD

THE WIND UP

London, To-day.

Japan's concern over the Mon- golian situation before the signing of the Moscow truca agreement Is Indicated In a delayed despatch from Pelping.

The despatch states that according to foreign observers at Shanhaikuan, thirteen Japanese troop trains recent- ly passed there en route from North

China to Manchukuo within a day.

On the trains were an estimated lieved to have been withdrawn from 10,000 men, most of whom are be-

Shansi, the southern half of which the Japanese appear to be abandon- ing, while military observers report This week's Treasury Bill allot- that numerous Japanese bombers have ment rate was only a shade easier at flown north, Indicating that the Ja

£3:11:0 compared with £3:12:0 pre-panese air force is being reinforced

from North China.-Reuter. viously.

Wall Street closed easy yesterday, -Reuter.

CANADIAN GIRL BURIED

London, To-day.

The funeral was held at Hamilton, Ontario, yesterday of Margaret Hay- ward, 10-year old Canadian girl who died as a result of injuries sustained in the Athenia torpedoing.

Just before the funeral, the Hamil- ton City Council met and passed a resolution expressing the horror of all Canadians at the tyranny, deceit and inhumanity of the German Govern-

ladderment.

I was as near as possible to the hatch, and still the water rose. The engine room was almost full by now, and if I hadn't found a two-inch re- cess caused by the coaming round the hatch I should have been under water.

As it was I put my head sideways and rested my cheek on the hatch and so was able to breathe.

¿ One final effort and the hatch flew open. I paddled with great frantic strokes out into the dim green sea. I could feel myself rising.

Above, the green was getting

"A Submarine of the E Class.

lighter. I thought I must be reach- ing the surface. I found it quite easy to breathe, and it dawned on me that I had had the good fortune to strike an air bubble.

Suddenly, it seemed, I was dazzled. by a great light until I realised that I had reached the surface and was looking into the sun.

Shortly afterwards I was picked up by a rowing boat from E41's par- ent ship Maidstone, which had been searching the sea in the vicinity where the submarine had foundered in case there were any survivors.

They put me to bed, and after a few days in hospital I was sent on leave.

NEXT WEEK:

The Man Who Brought Down The Potters Bar. Zeppelin.

Mr. Mackenzie King, the Canadian Prime Minister, attended the funeral. ~~~~Reuter.

REORGANISING U.S. ARMY

Washington, To-day.

FIGHTING GEASES

London, To-day. The Japanese news agency Domei announces that as a result of the truce signed in Moscow, fighting be- tween Soviet and Japanese troops ceased yesterday.

The fighting had lasted for nearly five months.

that A report from Moscow says the Soviet Premier and the Japanese Ambassador are continuing their

conversations.-Reuter.

PARIS PRICE CONTROL

Paris, To-day,

Increase in producers' wholesale and retail prices above the level existing on September 1 is forbidden by off- cial decree, unless the increase is shown to be justified and ́permission obtained.

The authorities have already taken action against a number of traders. -Reuter.

Mr.

SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTER

Paris, To-day.

S. F. Waterson, the South

to Paris, left

for

The United States War Department announces that the United States land forces will be reorganised immediate-African Minister ly into small, compact groups, as this London yesterday morning. He was will make them more effective. Reuter,

NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY YOUR BLANKETS

expected to arrive in the British ca-

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