Profound sympathy has been felt here with the Americans who
are mourning the loss, apparently with all lives, of Submarine 54. The submarine was rammed last Saturday by the Coastguard-Destroyer ' Paulding ' off the Massachusetts coast. The submarine sank in more than fifteen fathoms of water. Salvage might have been possible if the weather had been better, but the wind increased till it blew with gale force. It was hoped, however, that a few lives might be saved, as a diver was able to communicate with six men who were still alive in the forward compartment of the submarine. He tapped out messages on the hull, and received replies simple and brave, but heartrending. "Is gas bad ? " "No, but air is. How long will you be ? " "How many are there ? " "Six, please hurry." It was estimated that the oxygen in the submarine lasted till six o'clock on Monday evening. As it had been impossible by then either to pump in fresh oxygen or to lift the vessel, virtually all hope a saving the lives was abandoned.
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