CRANE AND RESCUE SHIPS BEGIN SALVAGE OPERATION.




Initials PBS/EURO-TELE(ZDF)/OS



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Background: SALVAGE CREWS STARTED WORK AT DAWN TODAY (MONDAY) TO RAISE THE SUNKEN WEST GERMAN SUBMARINE 'HAI' FROM THE FLOOR OF THE NORTH SEA, NEAR DOGGER BANK.

ONLY ONE OF THE VESSEL'S CREW OF TWENTY SURVIVED WHEN THE SMALL SUBMARINE, BUILT DURING WORLD WAR TWO, SANK DURING A TRAINING VOYAGE ON WEDNESDAY.

SEVEN BODIES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE VESSEL. ALL HOPE THAT THERE MIGHT BE OTHER SURVIVORS WERE DISPELLED WHEN A FROGMAN REPORTED HE HAD RECEIVED NO REPLY TO SIGNALS HE HAD TAPPED ON THE HULL.

THE LARGE GERMAN SEA CRANE 'MAGNUS THREE' ATTACHED ONE HEAVY CABLE BENEATH THE 'HAI' YESTERDAY.

THE SUBMARINE WILL BE HAULED TOWARDS THE SURFACE AND SUPPORTING BOUYANCY TANKS WILL BE FITTED.

THE SUBMARINE WILL BE TOWED TO HELIGOLAND ISLAND OFF THE NORTH WEST COAST OF GERMANY.