- Title: FRANCE: SEARCH CONTINUES FOR FRENCH SUBMARINE "EURYDICE".
- Date: 5th March 1970
- Summary: GV ZOOM IN SHIPS SEARCH AREA (4 SHOTS) 0.26 SV & CU SEARCHERS LOOK THROUGH BINOCULARS FROM HEADLAND (5 SHOTS) 0.47 GV SHIPS SEARCHING (2 SHOTS) 0.54 GV ZOOM OUT FROM SEARCH SHIP TO COAST. 1.01 Initials LN/VS/MR/BB EDITORS' NOTE: SEE VISNEWS FILM 1942/70 MARCH 1970 FOR FRENCH SUBMARINE SINKS FOLLOWING EXPLOSION IN MEDITERRANEAN WHICH ALSO REFERS. Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 20th March 1970 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MEDITERRANEAN SEA, NEAR FRANCE
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVABJVSW9X4K3TAZXJHJQYCY40NG
- Story Text: SHIPS FROM FRANCE, ITALY AND THE UNITED STATES JOINED IN THE SEARCH TODAY (THURSDAY, MARCH 5) FOR THE FRENCH SUBMARINE "EURYDICE", WHICH EXPLODED AND SANK IN THE MEDITERRANEAN YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4).
ALTHOUGH IT IS FEARED THAT THE SUBMARINE MAY NOW BE BURIED IN AN UNDERWATER SAND DUNE, THE FRENCH UNDERWATER EXPLORATION SHIP, "JEAN CHARCOT", EQUIPPED WITH AN UNDERWATER CAMERA, JOINED IN THE SEARCH FOR THE REMAINS OF THE "EURYDICE."
THE "EURYDICE", A SUBMARINE OF THE DAPHNE CLASS, WENT DOWN IN THE SAME AREA AS DID HER SISTER SHIP THE "MINERVA" IN 1968. ADMIRAL PAUL GERRARD, COMMANDER OF THE FRENCH SUBMARINE FORCE CALLED THE LOSS OF THE TWO SUBMARINES "A TRAGIC COINCIDENCE," AND SAID THE DAPHNE CLASS SHOULD NOT BE CONDEMNED BECAUSE OF THE LOSSES.
ALL 57 MEN ABOARD THE "EURYDICE" ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE DIED WITHIN SECONDS OF THE EXPLOSION, WHICH TOOK PLACE WHILE THE SUBMARINE WAS ON A ROUTINE EXERCISE IN CALM SEAS. WINDS OF UP TO 60 MILES (100 KMS) AN HOUR AND 13 FEET (FOUR METRES) HIGH WAVES HAMPERED THE AIR AND SEA SEARCH TODAY.
CARGO SHIPS THAT WERE IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO SUBMIT TO INSPECTION AT THEIR NEXT PORT OF CALL TO DISCOVER WHETHER THEY COULD HAVE HIT THE SUBMARINE. ONE OF THE VESSELS, THE 1,316-TON TUNISIAN FREIGHTER "TABARKA" WAS EXAMINED IN MARSEILLES HARBOUR AND WAS FOUND TO HAVE SOME SLIGHT SCRATCHES, BUT SO FAR NOTHING HAS BEEN FOUND TO LINK THE FREIGHTER WITH THE "EURYDICE". THE CAPTAIN OF THE "TABARKA" SAID HE HAD NOT SEEN OR HEARD ANYTHING WHILE SAILING OFF SAINT TROPEZ.
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