New Britain herald., 1926-06-02
All Pontoons Are In Place And Water Will Be Forced From Hull of Submarine While Tugs Pull.
If Refloated, Craft Will Be Taken to Brooklyn Navy Yard Where Bodies of
 Sailors Will Be Removed.

New London. June LP, - The navy is about ready to make the final desperate attempt to raise the submarine S-51 from the notion of the Atlantic ocean off Block Island where she has rested since the night of September 95, when she was ram- med by the Savannah line steamship City of Rome.
 Hope to Recover Bodies
 The bodies of 20 or more of the g men who went to their deaths when the submarine went down are thought to be still confined within the sunken steel shell, Eight bodies were recovered by the divers during the salvage operations that immedi~ ately followed the diaster, and maya, officials have been led 10 believe from the statements of the three survivors that Lieutenant Rodney II. DobSon. commander of the sub- marine and at least two members of the crews were swept from the bridge when the steel prov of the liner smashed into her. Michael $. Lira, first class engineman; Dewey G. kile, first class fireman, and Al fred Geier engineers mate, succeed ing in escaping through the coming tower of the S-51 just before sle went down. After swimming in the cold water for over an hour they were picked up by the City of Rome.
 Final Touches Today
 The final touches to the salvage program which was resumed seven weeks ago, after cold weather and winter seas caused it's abandonment last Dccrmbcr, are being made to- day. Pontoons number and s, ac- cording 10 radio IuesSa ges received at inc submarine base, are being lowered and will be attached to the suhmersible by the chains that divers yestcrday succeeded in passing under the sunkcn submersible'S hull. The pontoons will be placed in position at the bow Two are already ill posi- ton at the stern. two directly amid ship and two in position forward the coming tower at about the position occupied by the three inch gun. When the two now being lowered are in position. the stage will be all set and the curtain will go up for the final act of one of the navy's out standing tragedies. The outport valves have been sealed with ce- ment; all available matches have been closed, and the compartments Of tha ship that were uot hopeless- ly crushed in the collision have been sealed.
 Will Pump Out Water
 Powerful pumps and air tanks will pump and blow the water from the submarine The eight pontoons will be simultaneously blown free of air. and d fleet of tugs on the surface will, at signal, exert the concerted pull that IS expected to free the sub marine from the tentacous clutches Of King Neptune and the buoyancy Of the pontoor is expected to do the rest in bringing the ill-fatcd vessel to the surface -Four tugs are already on the scene. and additional ones r0quisitjoued are on the way.
 Captain l., J. King, commandant of submarine base, named by the navy department as otficer-i in-charge Of the salvage operations is on the scene and unless weather or other unseen events arrive 10 prevent it. the attempt to lift the vessel will be made possibly Friday or Saturday.
 Will Make Examination
 Tf the efforts are successful. and tho wrecked hulk is brought to the top she will be lowed to the Brook lyn navy yard. where the bodies will be removed; a searching examination of every bit of her mechanism will be conducted; and a survey will be made to see if inc vessel can be again fitted out for service. Navy of ticials are confident that the S-5l was cruising with all the lights re- quired by the law of the sea lighted on the night cf the tragic crash. and hope by an examination of the ves- sell to determine this fact.