TOULON EXPLOSION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1244, 28 September 1911, Page 5

TOULON EXPLOSION.

LIBERTE'S DEATH ROLL. GUN TURRET HURLED BODILY IN THE AIR. THE POWDER BLAMED. By Tclosraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. September 27,. 10.10 p.m.) Paris, September 27. It is officially stated that 113 of tho crew of the battleship Liberte are dead or missing as a result of the explosion, and 91 more- arc seriously injured. Twenty-four men were killed on the other warships in the vicinity, 37 are missing, 15 were seriously injured, and -18 were slightly injured. Roar Heard Thirty Miles Away. After the Libeite's sides were opened thirty-four bodies and numerous Truman remains were recovered. The roar of the explosion was heard thirty miles away. ■ Everything above the armour-belt was destroyed, and tho two forward turrets have disappeared. Some of the forward magazines on exploding carried this portion of the vessel into the air, and it fell on the after part, where it lies almost intact. The deck forms a huge arch. Crushed by the Turret. The turret fell on tho starboard beam, crushing a crowd of sailors who wero waiting to leave tho ship. Their mangled bodies, with bare feet and clenched fists, are visible under tho masa of twisted steel. • Dr. Cristau, attached to the Yerite, boarded the Liberte, but was immediately blown into the sea by a whirlwind of fire. He retained consciousness, and after being rescued, assisted in tending the injured. One of tie steam launches which 6ank was refloated. It contained an unrecognisable body and two injured men. The latter succumbed. Of eighty who jumped overboard and were returning on the sounding of the Liberte's bugle-call, fifty perished. Lucky Escapes. A sailor who was in tho Jena explosion survived that on the Liberte. His term of service expired yesterday. A quartermaster named Leroy jumped overboard, but returned and entered tho turret. Whilo changing his clothes ho was thrown off his feet. The whole ship heeled over, and ho lay for ten minutes paralysed by the shock. Realising that tho catastropho was complete, he crept out and jumped into the sea, and was rescued. Sub-Lieutenant Mathieu was jammed between two armour-plates, and after remaining in this plight for two hours in tho burning ship he was rescued unhurt. Admiral Bellue, commanding the second squadron lying at Toulon, states that the powder was the sole cause of the explosion on the Liberte. The cases containing the powder raised the temperature j enormously, and sufficiently to explode the shells. The samo powder caused the recent accident on the Gloire.