THE NAVAL DISASTERS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9133, 30 April 1908, Page 5

THE NAVAL DISASTERS.

Press.Association—Copyright. London, April^29. 'The Admiralty states that Lientenant Fletcher, not Lieutenant Drought, is missing. The Gala and fifteen destroyers •attacked the Attentive and Adventure, jyvhich were manoeuvring with masked lights in a very rough sea. Following the Ettrick’s successful attack on the Adventure, the Gala, Ripple and Teviot, at a speed of 13 knots, attacked the Attentive, which seeing a collision was inevitable, turned on her searchlight. The Attentive struck the Gala on the port ■•side, cutting her completely in two. The forepart soon sank. The stern part floated away, and subsequently sank. The crew were rescued, except Lieutenant Fletcher, who is supposed to have been killed while asleep in his cabin. The Attentive, after getting clear of the Gala, struck the Ripple, knocking a large hole in her side and flooding two compartments. ANOTHER ACCIDENT. The battleship Britannia, while voyaging from Queen’s Perry to Portsmouth, hurst a boiler tube, seriously injuring five men. THE GLADIATOR INQUEST.

The Coroner directed the jury in the Gladiator’s inquest that no criminal responsibility had been disclosed, and a verdict was returned of accidental death.