1.   He added that this attempt was likely thwarted by water that had gradually flooded the ninth compartment of the sub.

2.   Motsak said the note indicates that two or three crewmen tried to flee the submarine through a specially built escape hatch in that ninth compartment.

3.   They then opened the inner hatch to the ninth compartment and found it flooded also.

4.   After the note was discovered, divers concentrated on the ninth compartment but were hampered by rough waters.

5.   In Moscow, navy spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo said Tuesday that the ninth compartment was too confined for the divers to continue their work.

6.   Kuroyedov said that after the note was discovered, the divers were concentrating on searching for bodies in the ninth compartment.

7.   Meanwhile, other divers have struggled to cut another hole in the ninth compartment so that they could enter from another angle.

8.   Motsak said that the escape attempt could have been thwarted by the water that gradually flooded the ninth compartment.

9.   The ninth compartment is where the emergency escape hatch is located.

10.   Water that gradually flooded the ninth compartment could have thwarted that escape attempt, he said.