FRENCH NAVAL DISASTER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1481, 2 July 1912, Page 5

FRENCH NAVAL DISASTER.

DEFECTIVE POWDER BLAMED. By Tclecrnph-Prcss Associalion-Copyricht Paris, Juno 30. There is much anxiety over tho explosion .on thn crui.-er Julos Michelct la»t week, by which four sailors were hilled and a number oC others seriously iniuro.l, whilst battle practice was being indulged in. 'J'hcconsonsus of opinion is that defective powder caused the emission of nmylic alcohol gases. Tho officers are demanding that all powders manufactured up to (ho present year should bo destroyed. - An inquiry into tho cause of tho disaster has been ordered. j

The Paris journal "La Matin" announced in April that experiments having demonstrated that tho new powders used in tho French Navy were, no butter than (he old ones, the battleships of tho third Dreadnought squadron and the first squadron recently received orders to put them ashore. Tho discovery that tho powder supplied to the Navy, even tli.it manufactured so lately os 1010, is defective, was causing much concern. The ships had only stocks for immediate requirements, and there were no reserves on shore. Tho manufacture of powder being ft Stale monopoly in France, private companies could not come lo (he, rescue. Tho matter was receiving the. .urgent attention of the Admiralty.