MINE EXPLOSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23916, 18 September 1939, Page 8

MINE EXPLOSION

FRENCH CRUISER DAMAGED HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE CONTRADICTORY REPORTS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) PARIS, Sept. 16. (Received Sept. 17, at 11 p.m.) It has been officially stated that the French cruiser and minelayer Pluton suffered “ an accident aboard somewhere at sea, 100 sailors being killed.” The details have not been revealed, but this much is made known, the French authorities said, in order to counteract a report that the warship was torpedoed. AN UNCONFIRMED REPORT ONE THOUSAND CASUALTIES CEUTA (Spanish Morocco), Sept. 16. (Received Sept. 17, at 10 p.m.) An unconfirmed message from Casablanca states that 1000 men were killed or wounded when the Pluton was blown up while loading. One hundred of the crew of 424 are dead and the other casualties occurred on the docks. SHIP SINKS IMMEDIATELY ROME, Sept. 16. (Received Sept. 17, at 10 p.m.) A despatch from Saint Louis, Senegal, states: “Travellers from Casablanca declared that a mine exploded while the Pluton was loading, causing the ship to sink 'fnraediately. Buildings in the city and on the outskirts were damaged.” EXPLOSION IN BERLIN MINISTRY HEADQUARTERS BERLIN, Sept. 17. (Received Sept. 17, at 8 p.m.) An explosion occurred during the nightly black-out to-day at the Air Ministry .headquarters. The cause and the extent of the damage are unknown. The streets were deserted at the time. The propaganda department stated that the persons responsible will be energetically sought. CHECK ON PROFITEERING MEASURES IN FRANCE PARIS, Sept. 15. Government measures for checking profiteers provide that profits above the maximum of firms engaged in national defence must go to the State. The maximum has so far not been announced. It will vary for different industries. A capital war tax is applied on a rising scale, reaching 100 per cent, above the fixed maximum. GIBRALTAR DEFENCES TRESPASSERS IMPRISONED GIBRALTAR, Sept. 16. (Received Sept. 17, at 9 p.m.) Ccmmandante Emiliano Tejado, who helped General Maija to defend Madrid in the course of the Spanish war and an unnamed Spaniard, were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and fined £SO for trespassing near the defences. SOUTH AMERICAN COAST A JOINT NAVAL PATROL BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 15. (Received Sept. 17, at 7 p.m.) The Argentine, Brazil and Uruguay, are considering the establishment of a joint naval patrol on the South American Atlantic coast. S.C. WAR POLAND'S GOLD SHIPPED TO LONDON A message from Bucharest states that half of the Bank of Poland’s gold has been shipped on a British steamer at a Black Sea port. It amounted to 200,000,000 zloties (about £8,000,000). The other half is reported to be awaiting shipment, it is supnosed. to England. BRITISH PLANE SHOT DOWN AMERICAN WOMAN KILLED NEW YORK, Sept. 15. Mr Henry Newson, a member of the faculty of St. Mary’s College, California, has received an official British War Office despatch notifying him of the death of his sister, Dr Florence Newson, a Red Cross volunteer, aboard a British aeroplane en route to Poland, which was shot down in Germany. All those aboard were killed. BRAVE POLISH PILOTS PARIS, Sept. 16. (Received Sept. 17, at 10 p.m.) The Polish Telegraph Agency states that Lieutenant Pilusinski single-handed attacked 12 German bombers, and when his ammunition gave out he deliberately rammed a German plane. Sergeant Barcinowsky, after shooting down a bomber near Modlin, was wounded. He, too, rammed a plane, but was killed in a crash. Another Polish flier who followed suit parachuted to safety. SOUTHERN ARABIA READY TO ASSIST BRITAIN (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Sept. 16. . (Received Sept. 17, at 8 p.m.) The declaration of loyalty to the British Empire, made by the two independent Sultans of the Hadhramaut, come as a reminder that at no time since the British first became connected with Aden, exactly 100 years ago, have the Sultan of Shihr and the Mukalla and Kathiri Sultans— long at daggers drawn with each other and with the rest of the wor ld—been so friendly to Britain. The declarations likewise show that Southern Arabia is anxious to see and ready to assist in a British victory.