London. July 3.
At the opening of the inquiry into the loss of the submarine Thetis here today, the Attorney-General, Sir Donald Somervell, representing the Admiralty. said that he proposed to call evidence in the following order:—1, Evidence from the survivors, who numbered four. regarding what happened at the time of the disaster.
2. The general procedure—with regard to the trials of a vessel built under contract, as well as the previous trials and the history of the Thetis.
3. The Davis Safety Apparatus and its actual drill and instruction in connection with the Thetis.
4. Witnesses from the tug w ich accompanied the Thetis, 5. The steps taken when the submarine failed to rise to the surface and the vessels and aeroplanes sent to search for and to assist her.
6. The actions of the rescue vessels when the submarine was located 7. Evidence from the Admiralty regarding the policy effecting the safety of those serving in submarines.
Sir Donald observed that he need not say what anxious, careful and repeated consideration was given the matter of the best method or saving life from a submarine where it was possible, and the result of that policy was embodied in the structure of the Thetis, with two escape chambers to be used with the Davis Apparatus.
He revealed that the Thetis was engaged in an acceptance trial, prior to being taken over, at the time of the disaster and there was "evidence which may or may not have import-arca, that on the morning of June 1, there some discussion as to the trim."—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.