Evening star., 1939-06-05
Text of Chamberlain Address
British Premier Says Every Effort
Was Made to Save Men on Thetis

came open or was open through
reasons which cannot be fully ex-
planned
The men in escaping from the
compartment were unable in the
time available to close the water
tight doors behind them. The flood
ing was restricted to the second
compartment.
The main ballast tanks were
emptied by compressed air with the
intention of bringing the submarine
to the surface, but she continued
to dive and hit bottom at an angle
of IS degrees.
She hit bottom at 100 feet.
The Thetis came to rest on the
bottom on an even keel. The impact
on the bottom destroyed the vessels
signalling apparatus and she was
unable to communicate with surface
vessels.
Smoke Floats Sent Up.
Marker buoys were released from
the vessel and smoke floats were
sent up, but these were not observed
by the escorting tug. which had fol-
lowed the expected course of the
submarine.
With view to facilitating escape
of the personnel all possible meas
ures were taken by the crew to
tighten the submarine, and the stern
came to the surface at daylight on
June 2.
The Thetis had been due to sur
face at 4:40 pm. on Thursday,
June l.
The rear admiral of submarines
at Portsmouth asked the admiralty
for news at Sis pm. and negative
reply was given.
The commander-in-ch chief at Ply
mouth, under whose command sub
sequent operations fell, was in
formed that the Thetis had failed
to surface at $50 pm.
| According to pre-arranged pro-
cedure to deal with such an emer-
gency, the following vessels were
dispatched and proceeded at maxi
mum speed to the scene of the acci-
| dent:
His majesty's ship Brazen of the
Plymouth command, eight destroyers
of the sixth destroyer Flotilla, six
minesWeepers. two submarines and
another vessel.
The admiralty got in touch with
the air ministry, in consequence of
which search by aircraft took place
at 9:20 by the 239th Squadron of
the Royal Air Force, which sighted
marker buoys which the submarine
had released.
Brazen Begins Search.
The Brazen arrived at 6 pm. and
began a search for the missing sub
marine.
Having received news of a buoy
being sighted by aircraft she pro-
ceeded to search throughout the
night and at 7:54 am. on the End
Of June she reported that she had
located the submarine with her
stern 18 feet out Of water.
On the previous evening the ad-
miral commanding in chief at Ply
mouth had been in touch with a
Liverpool salvage company, with the
Mersey Harbord Board and Cam
nell Laird with view to obtaining
all technical appliances which might
be required.
Shortly after the Brazen found
the sub and had indicated her pres
ence by sound signaling. The first
two survivors came to the surface
by the Davis escape apparatus
through special escape matches.
One of these was Capt. Dram, who
with very great gallantry, took upon
himself before it was known that
the submarine had been located to
try to escape, under conditions
which it was realized we're most
dangerous, in order to direct opera
tions.
He reported that conditions were
becoming bad but that all on board
were still alive.
At GAS two more men had made
their escape and at 1890 the sixth
destroyer fotilla arrived and hel
captain took command.
Strong Spring Tides.
Since the discovery of the sub.
marine exceptionally strong spring
tides had been running and 1t was
impossible to undertake diving
operations, which could only be car
ried out In slack water.
As soon as possible . diver from