New-York tribune., 1907-11-24
SUBMARINE COLLISION.
NARROW ESCAPE OF MEN.
Details Of Disaster at Three Faith
oms' Depth off TouIon.
Especial by French Cable to The Tribune
rc.a....-I-lt 1nn1 h. The Tribune Associa tlon.

Paris Nov 23-The collision between two
submarine torpedo boats while maneuvring
at depth of nearly three fathoms, which
occurred on Friday afternoon three miles
south of Cape Brun, between Toulon and
Hyeres in fair weather. is the first accident or
the kind so far recorded in the French navy. 1t
caused considerable stir at Touon. which for
the last two years has been the scene of
series of catastrophes altogether without prece-
dent Owing to the courtesy Of NJ. Arthur
Meyer proprietor Of the "Gauois," am enabled
to cable an interview with Captain Delage. COM
mander of the French submarine fotilla at Tou-
lon who gave TO the "Gaulois" correspondent
the following description of this novel accident:
At 10 o'clock on Friday morning four sub
marines. including the Bonita, commanded py
Lieutenant RobillQt, and the Southeur' unGer
the orders of Lieutenant Nennin started 10 take
up the positions assigned them IN thelr re-
spective sectors, spheres of action, 10 attaCh
the battleship and cruiser squadron Aithoue"
the orders strictly forbid submarines " iedN
their sectors the Bonita in hope of being able
to launch a dummy torpedo against the paItt,
ship JauregUberry, dived and proceeded at lu'
speed at the depth of eighteen feet, ana mao
yertentlv entered upon the sector assigned to
the SoufTleur. Meanwhile. the submarine soul
fleur was also manpuvrng to attack inc Jaure-
guiberTy- mi,
The two submarines came in collision The
Bonita hit the Soufleur just on the starboaTo
quarter smashing the latter's diving rudder and
gear carrying away her guards ana Pto-
tectors and piercing the glass of the coming
turret The shock was terrible. Lieutenant
RobillOt ordered the safety leads to he detaCheu
and emptied the water ballast chambers foft-
unateIv the Watertght safety hood that lsolates
tho coming turret from the rest of the vessel
WAS in position. that the water lhdt mum.
dated the tower did not penetrate elsewhere. ~
was this safety hood that prevented the 30"
feur from sinking to a depth ot over one
thousand fathoms.
For a few moments the weight ot water III
the coming tower prevented the Soutf1eur from
rising to the surface, and for a while she lay
uOtiouess The officers and the crew felt con
vinced that all over, but gradually the SUD
marine came to the surface. All hands Wef"
faint and nearly suffocated by the fumes from
the damaged acCumuators Lieutenant Roolilot
succeeded when the surface was reached IN emp
tving the water from the coming turret. Mean
while the Bonita, which caused the accident
and which had received only slight damage oy
the collision, came to the surface and, backing
her engines approached the Souftieur to render
assistance But owing TO the heavy swell the
Bonita backed into the Souffeur, whose steering
gear had been destroyed. and another collision
occurred This time the Bonita lost two plates
and her propeller carried away oelore as
sistance arrived from the cruiser squadron
Lieutenant RobiIlot said. My men never for
an instant lost their sangfrod. They behaved
sn,endidlv and executed orders with calm
ness and precision as If on drill. although we all
faIt sure none of us ever expected to see day
light again"
Rear Admiral Campion has ordered n court
investigation. In the opinion of naval men this
extraordinary accident was solely due 10 the
imprudence Of the Bonita in quitting her sector.
CT b