Evening star., 1948-10-11
Piccard Bathyscaphe
Gets Ocean Baptism;
Test Is Successful
By Henry Ghyssels
North Amsrieon Newspaper Alliones


DAKAR, French West Africa, Oct.
11.-Prof. Auguste Piccard's bathy-
scaphe had its ocean baptism Sat-
urday. 1t was a great moment, the
final realization of q dream Of 10
years.
The underwater balloon was
taken just beyond the outer harbor
of this African port, into waters
protected from the Atlantic swell
by Cork Island. In anticipation of
times when both Profs. Picard and
Max Cosyns will be below in the
bathscaphe, 1t. Comdr. Jacques
Coustau of the French Navy was
put in charge of the operation after
both scientists had briefed him
carefully.
Six sailors of the crew of the
mothership Scaldis trundled the
450-pound steel-and-plexiglass port
of the bathyscaphe down the deck
on q wheeled dolly. They lifted it
carefully into place in the cabins
side. This is a delicate operation
for, in view of the tremendous
pressures to which the join will be
exposed during dives, not even q
scratch can be risked in the conical
plexiglaSs window or the steel sides.
Yet it must be adjusted flush to
within 2/100th of a millimeter.
Held by Metal Ring.
Water pressure on the wide outer
end of the thick conical port is
enough to hold it in place once the
craft submerges. But. until then,
a fianged metal ring Is screwed
down over 1t to prevent its falling
out.
While this was being done. other
seamen fastened rings on the up
per part of the bathyscaphe to the
ships hoist. Other crew members
were stationed by trailing ropes so
us to stabilize the heavy bathy-
scaphe while 1t was being hauled
aloft, to prevent its swinging
against q mast or the ships side
and perhaps being damaged.
Then, at 2 pm, one hour after
the operation began, the order was
given to haul her up. Every one
watches intensely as the craft rises
in the air.
Prof. Picard breaks the tension
by asking, mo leaks YETI" At the
top of the bathyscaphe's antenna
a small light has been fixed. The
moment water leaks into the un-
tenanted cabin,> the light will 60
out.
Picard Takes Pictures.
At 2::25 pm. the bathyscaphe
touches water for the first time, to
begin a career whose potential ad-
venture and importance to the SCI
entifiec world cannot be gauged nor
even clearly imagined as yet. Comdr.
Coustau Is standing by in q bath
ing suit, with diving helmet
ready. Prof. Picard is busy taking
photographs; he seems happy.
The French corvette Ellie Mon
nier. near by, at this point veers
of to drive away the host Of sight
oCC1lS UOdto S4oWolAA6 4ICo4 C44C tCot
area.
Now the top of the Bathyscaphe's
float is sinking below the surface
of the shallow coastal waters.
Comdr. Coustau goes overheard to
check for leaks and poor electric
contact. The radio-control appara-
tus Is working. Another regular
diver of the French Navy follows
Comdr. Coustau below, swimming
with rubber frogs feet" over his
own.
The two men come back to the
surface to report that everything
appears to be in order and function
ing properly. It's 4:30 when the
order is given to raise the bathy-
scaphe.
Dripping, the monstrous mechan-
ism is lowered onto her cradle in
the hold Of the Scaldis. Profs. Pic
card and Cosyns, this last despite
his illness (the delay this caused
permitted these preliminary tests
to be made off Dakar instead of
at sea-. do down to check on their