Mr. Johnson, managing director of Messrs, Cammell, Laird & Ca, Ltd, builders of the ill-fated submarine Thetis, declared today that when the crew opened one of the forward doors, a torpedo tube was flooded, the water overpowered them, and they were only able to shut the door partially.
The result was that the two forward compartments in the submarine were flooded.
Replying to the criticism that something more might have been done to save the men imprisoned in the submarine, Mr. Johnson insisted that the Admiralty had done everything possible to save their lives.
That, he added, was the only thing everyone cared about.
He described the difficulties attending the rescue operations as "terrific."
Strong Curreats The currents, he said, were very strong, and the divers were forced into almost a horizontal position.
Asked why a hole was not cut in the tail of the submarine, which at one time was protruding out of the water, Mr. Johnson declared that this "would only have endangered the ship."
He added that they could have cut a hole there, but that they would have been unable to get anyone through.
Asked why an air-line was not connected to the submarine, Mr. Johnson said the divers could not get near to the air connections.
He stated that one of the survivors had told him that he did not think Former China Station Officers Among Dead London, June 5.
Details of the careers of the eleven naval officers who died aboard the ill-fated submarine Thetis published in "The Times" today show that six of them had served in China.
They are: Commander R.G.B. Hayter, Lieutenant-Commander M. Garnett, Lieutenant-Commander T.C.C. Lloyd, Lieutenant H. Chapman, Lieutenant (E) C.M.H. Henderson, and Lieutenant (E) A.G. Jami-son.—Reuter.
"Black Sunday" at Birkenhead yesterday was marked by solemn church services. All ships flew their flags at half-mast. The churches were packed with salvagers. The churches held but short service, announcing' that memorial services would be held at Portsmouth, Devonport, and Chatham on Wednesday and also at the scene of the disaster if the submarine were not raised by then.
Meanwhile, Mr. R. E. Johnson, a director of Messrs. Cammell Liard. builders of the ill-fated craft, said that it "may take two days, two weeks or perhaps we will never raise the Thetis. A lot depends on the weather. I have heard to nothing to give me any reason to suspect sabotage,"—United Press. he could have lived for another half-hour if he had remained in the submarine.
Messrs. Cammell, Laird's, he went on, would give financial assistance to the dependents of those of its employees who perished in the submarine.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.