30TH REINFORCEMENTS.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 December 1917, Page 5

30TH REINFORCEMENTS.

WELLINGTON, Dec. 10. The Minister for Defence has reeeiv ed advice that the 30th Reinforcements have arrived at their destination, all well.

HALIFAX DISASTER. Received 8.55. HALIFAX, Dec 10. The military are arresting -wholesale German residents who have been previously reporting monthly. HOW THE DISASTER .OCCURRED. MEN BLOWN ON SHORE. NARROW ESCAPE OF SECOND MUNITION SHIP. Received 9.40. OTTAWA, Decemer 10. The Mont Blanc explosion in Halifax harbour caused a fire which threatened the military magazine. People fled from the streets in the neighbourhood expecting the instant destruction of the entire city. An officer of .the Seventy Second Ottawa Battery called for volunteers to assist to flood the magazine. Despite the intense heat, every man of the battery responded, and worked in icy water waist deep until the danger was averted. The Imo’s crew assert the disaster was due to the Mont Blanco mistaking the signals, The Imo turned to starboard thinking, it. -would be able to pass, but the distance was too short. The Imo then rammed the Mont Blanc ondthe-*starboard side. . The dama'go was apparently slight* and the Mont Blanc headed for the city piers and the Imp towards,; the shallow -water in order to see the extent of her damage. • Then chemical"flames were seen on the Mont Blanc ’s deck. An explosion followed, hurling the Imo ashore on '-the crest of a tidal wave.

The Imo’s captain had his head blown off, the pilot’s bo'dy was thrown ashore, and the helmsman found dead at his post. Every man of the crew above deck were killed, those below alone escaped, and were found later dazed amongst the brushwood ashore. When the explosion occurred a second munition ship, the Picton, was set afire. If it had exploded it would certainly have wrecked, the whole water front. The crew, however, extinguished, the fire before it reached the cargo. The latest estimates of the known dead number twelve hundred, whereof nine hundred are identified; two thousand are missing, eight thousand injured, : and * twenty-five "thousand homeless. The damage to property amounts to five millions sterling.

ALMOST 1000. BODIES RECOVERED. OTTAWA, December 9. Two hundred additional bodies have been recovered. The total is approximately 1000. Rescue -work is pro cceding, unhindered by the weather, ■which is clear. Marjtial law prevails. Assistance from outside has increased. SIGNIFICANT ARRESTS. HALIFAX, December 10. The survivors of the Norwegian ship Imo, which collided with the munition ship, have been arrested by the British authorities naval authorities. All non-residents not engaged in relief work have been asked to leave, owing to serious lack of accommodation. AUSTRALIA’S SYMPATHY. MELBOURNE, Dee. 10. Mr. Hughes has cabled to Sir R. Borden, Australia’s sympathy in the Halifax disaster.

The following telegram has been sent by Mr..,Masscy to the Prime Minister of Canada: “On behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand I desire to express our heartfelt sympathy with the relatives and friends of all those who have lost their lives, or who hap been injured in the disastrous explosion at Halifax. Please convey to the Premier of Nova Scotia and the Mayor of Halifax this expression of New Zealand’s condolence.”