ALL HOPE GONE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 52, 1 February 1932, Page 7

ALL HOPE GONE.

LOSt BRITISH SUBMARINE.

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Jan. 29. The search for submarine M2 continued throughout the night and is still proceeding. An Admiralty announcement last night, however, stated that the possibility of saving life was almost beyond hope. The . announcement contained the following information from the RearAdmiral in charge of the search: “Me have temporarily ahandoned operations on the obstruction first discovered on Tuesday evening, as the- sweep , keeps slipping so that divers cannot , reach it. A diver has not reached the other obstruction found yesterday, but may do so at the next tide. A further search of the area to-day has revealed another. obstruction six miles from Portland Bill. Divers have been on the bottom near it, and have so far failed to reach the obstruction. Operations continue.” . At 5 o’clock this morning a further announcement was issued which stated that the obstruction discovered six miles north by west from Portland Bill is an old wreck. “We shall sweep the vicinity as an earlier sweep which parted brought up a pair of submarine , hand flags in a canvas case. The general search will continue as well. There is no hope of saving life. The task confronting the searchers is immensely difficult as the sea bed in the bay is dotted with over 200 old wrecks. The flags brought up during the sweep are under expert examination at the dockyard to See if there is a likelihood of their having any connection with M2. Divers and m<x>nng lighters are being held in readiness for an emergency call. . VESSEL MUST BE FOUND. DECISION. Received February 1. 9.5 a.m. LONDON Jan 31 'The Admiralty insists that the M2 be found. The search involves practically charting West Bay, which is littered with war wrecks.