FRUITLESS SEARCH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 50, 29 January 1932, Page 7

FRUITLESS SEARCH

MISSING SUBMARINE. FATE OF CREW OF M2. DIVERS’ WORK HAMPERED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph .—Copy right.) •Reoeived January 29, 9.30 a.m. . LONDON, Jan. 28. After a fruitless, all-night search, the prospect of finding the submarine M2 in time' to rescue the crew alive has practically vanished. The search to-day moved to the point at which Captain Howard, master of the coastal vessel, Tynesider, saw a submarine submerging on Tuesday. The chances of ever locating M2 are becoming less with the increasing seas, strong current and thick mist, which are hampering the divers and airmen. .• . . ■ The Bkipper of. the schooner Crown of Denmark informed the Admiralty that he saw at 1.40 o’clock on Tuesday in Lyme Bay, 16 miles south-east of Lyme Regis (in Dorsetshire), a sudden bright light, which reappeared brighter ana disappeared. There were two loud explosions ten minutes afterwards. ,

NUMEROUS CRAFT SEARCHING

GRAVEST FEARS ENTERTAINED.

(British Official Wireless). RUGBY, Jan. 27. Although hope has not entirely been abandoned, the gravest fears are _entertained regarding the fate of the 56 ofncers and men of the submarine M2. The vessel has not been seen, and no signfil has been received from her since she dived off Portland Bill yesterday morning. . . . Numerous naval and aircraft ; have been continuously searching the area since the alarm was first raised yesterday evening, but so far the vessel has not been definitely located, although several uncharted, obstructions, possibly old wrecks, have been encountered. The M2 was equipped with an aeroplane and two members. of the Air Force personnel are among the missing men. Early this morning it was thought that the vessel had been located. After a prolonged search an announcement was made at 12.40 a.m. - “An object presumed to be the submarine M2 has been located three miles west of Portland Bill in 17 fathoms, and on a sandy bottom. Salvage equipment and divers have been sent from Portsmouth to this position with the utmost dispatch.’’ Later, however, it became apparent that the early report was premature, and at noon the search was continuing. .. . Yesterday the M2 was exercising independently. The last message from her, signifying that she was about to begin exercises, was timed at 10.11 a.m. • .

in the afternoon H.M.S. Titania, the depot ship foy the submarines, reported that she could no longer maintain communication with M2, and when at 4.15 p.m. M2 did not return with the other submarines which had been exercising, four destroyers ana two submarines were sent to search for her. ' \ . . Meanwhile ail available diving and salvage equipment was got ready in Portland Harbour and, early this morning, under Rear-Admiral Little, the Admiral Commanding Submarines at Portsmouth, was on the spot where the object thought to be the M2 had been located. The M2 was laid down in 1916 and completed in 1920. In 1927 her 12in. gun was taken out and, in the space formerly occupied by the gun mounting, a hangar was provided for a small Pamed-Pixie seaplane, the wings of which are folded, for stowage in the submarine. A submarine this type could remain under water in an emergency for 48 hours. The M2 is equipped with the latest life-saving devices, including the Davis escape apparatus responsible for the rescue of the men in the Poseidon. SAW SUBMARINE DIVE. CAPTAIN’S STORY. , LONDON, Jan. 28. A message from Portland states that the search is being continued for M2 by H.M.S. Tedworth, with deep-sea diving appliances and extra divers operating. A British United'"'Press represents tive at Gravolines, France, interviewed Captain Howard, of the Tynesider, who, telephoning, the Admiralty, said: “I saw a submarine with the mark ‘2.’ Some minutes later I saw the submarine with its end down at an agle of 45 degrees. It then dived into the sea, eight miles north-west by north of Portland Bill and two and a half miles from the shore. Ours was the only boat near.” It is stated that unless the oxygen reservoirs are out of action it is possible that the crow will survive for two or three days.