Evening star., 1939-06-05
7 Thetiis
Continued From First Page.)

the disaster it was proposed that
q full public inquiry be held. Naval
inquiries usually are private.
The Prime Minister said three
men were believed to have been
killed in trying to escape through
the Davis lung method by which
four men saved themselves.
One of the survivors, Capt. H.
P. K. Dram. with gallantry took
upon himself before he knew the
submarine had been sighted to es-
cape from the submarine under con-
ditions which were realized to be
most dangerous in order to direct
operations" Mr.. Chamberlain said.
He added that Capt. Dram re-
ported conditions in the submarine
then were becoming bad, but all on
board we're still alive.
Mr.. Chamberlain related that a
strong tide made diving operations
difficult and efforts to raise the pro-
truding stern higher were unsuc-
cessful.
To attempt to cut hole in the
stern in her position then would
have incurred severe risk of flood
ing which would have been unjusti-
fed, he said.
Water in Torpedo Tube.
Before Mr.. Chamberlain made his
statement, R. S. johnson, managing
director of Cammell Laird, Ltd,
builders of the Thetis, had an
nounced the original cause of trouble
In the sunken craft was water in
the forward torpedo tube. But no
one could say as yet, he added,
whether this resulted from damage
to the tube or whether there was
failure to shut the forward door.
Mr.. Chamberlain, continuing his
statement, said the stern was sub
merged with high tide. Later a wire
was placed around the vessel, but
1t slipped, cutting away the marker
buoy
After a diver had reported he
heard what he believed were tap
pings from inside the Thetis early
Saturday morning, the Prime Min
lister said plans were made to at
tempt to pump air into the subma-
rine. But these were abandoned
since it was found the operation
could not be undertaken in time to
save the lives of the entombed men.
Mr.. Chamberlain. on behalf of the
government and the House of Com
mons. expressed profound sorrow
at the loss of so many valuable lives
and deep sympathy with the rela-
tives"
He said the presence of additional
personnel-the submarine carried
almost double the number of her
normal complement-in no way con-
tributed to the sinking of the Thetis.
Asked If there was no telephone
communication between the sub
marine and her accompanying tug
or later between the submarine and
the buoy she released, Mr.. Cham
berlain explained the signaling ap-
paratus was destroyed when the YES
sci hit the bottom.
Grew Opened Door.
Mr.. johnson in his explanation
said:
"The crew opened the after door
thinking there was no water in the
tube. But water overpowered them
and they were forced to retreat
through the next water-tight door
and try to shut that door. But water
again overpowered them and they
were only able to shut it partially.
"They had to skip out of that
section further to the stern and tc
make certain of closing the second
bulkhead.
1.-TWO forward compartments
therefore were full of water No
body, however, was drowned at thai
time"
Admiralty Gets Details.
Meanwhile, from the lips of Capt
Dram an admiralty board obtained
details of the tragedy.
Mr.. Johnson's account of the dis.
aster, the first to be given. presum.
ably was obtained largely from these
men who used the Davis escape ap.
paratus.
Besides Capt. Dram. those savee