Evening star., 1941-06-21
0-9's 3 Dead
May Be Left
In Ocean Tomb
Submarine Located, ,
Divers Sturt Down;
No Hope for Crew
Ry the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PORTSMOUTH, N. H., June 81.
"A possibility that the sunken
submarine 90 and her crew Of
33 dead might be left on the
ocean floor, entombed under a
compression of 440 feet of water
that has crumpled the crafts
steel shell, was sounded today by
the Navy's high command.
Secretary of the Navy Frank
Knox. unshaven and obviously deep
ly concerned told neWsmen that
at that depth it is impossible for
divers to conduct salvage operations
so far as We now know"
1T is a terrible thing Knox
added. but everything that can be
done will be done I will go to the
scene if there is anything l can do
to help"
In Washington, simultaneously,
Navy men said they thought an al
tempt would be made to salvage the
23-year-old O-9. recently recon-
missioned. to remove the dead, de-
termine the cause of the tragedy
and gain experience in underwater
work under tremendous pressure.
CauSe Nav Re I-nSOIyed
But aboard the rescue ship Falcon.
Admiral Richard S Edwards, COM
mander Of submarines of the AT
lantic Fleet, also intimated the
cause of the sinking might go un-
solved He said the cause could not
be determined until and If the
submarine is brought up"
A final answer as to whether SAL
wage will be attempted, he added,
depended upon the findings Of two
Navy divers who will go down dur
ing the day The men selected for
the hazardous dive were Neil Shee-
han and George Crocker. They will
wear helium helmets and special
equipment.
Admiral Edwards. reporting the
graphing lines definitely were
hooked to the O-9 said there was
no indication of any life aboard
and added that I don't think there
is any hope
Asked what he thought Of the
submarines present condition, he
replied briefly:
Probably crushed"
Found by Other Subs,
Contact with the 90 finally was
made by four submarines, running
abreast up and down the area. Then
small boats were put over to sweep
grapnels across the spot marked by
buoys dropped by the submarines.
Certainty that the % lay below
came when a piece of wooden deck
was picked up. 1t was labeled "9-
P-7." showing that it was the sew
enth section on the port side OF
the O-9.
That all aboard were dead. Of
ficials no longer expressed doubt
Knox said he had had hopes" until
this morning. Asked whether the
Navy Secretary would go TO the
scene. Admiral John D Wainwright
said, Hes in charge of things"
Favored by calm seas and light
airs. Admiral Edwards said the at
tempt TO send down the divers
would be made with the arrival OF
the CheWink. a submarine tender,
from Neu- TnrGnr0
His radio message from the rescue
ship to the Portsmouth Navy Yard
said:
Believe sub definitely located in
440 feet of water. Large quantities
of cork, oil, air and decking sighted.
Two grapnels attached. Will at
tempt send diver down. Have
made continuous efforts to COM
municate. but have received no In
dication of life in submarine"
Four Divers Ready.
Four divers were aboard the Fall
con. whose position was about l5
miles off this old New England port
not far from where the submarine
Squalus sank in 24O feet of water
May %. 1899, with a loss of 26 of her
crew of SO men.
Twenty-one other divers. flown
mere from Washington, were on
shore, awaiting a call if needed.
Commenting on the Falcons find.
It. Comdr. Edmund Jewell. ashore,
said contact was made a little out
side-about two-tenths of a mile
the swept" area, which. is cleared
for submarine dives, but he ex-
planned that this region probably
would be swept, too" adding:
Its like when you NOV your
lawn; you oversWeep somewhat
Possibility of Signals.
Comdr. Jewell asserted that If
divers went down and landed on the
wrong part of the submarine, they
might not be able to determine
whether any one still was alive.
Signals, however, probably would be
successful from most sections of the
craft.
Sufficient helium to supply divers
for two days operations was on
hand, and more was on the way.
President Roosevelt. who kept in
personal touch with the Navy De-