FRENCH NAVAL DISASTER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 57, 14 March 1907, Page 3

FRENCH NAVAL DISASTER

EXPLOSION ON A BATTLESHIP HEAVY casualty list. : —- Pasis, March 1An explosion occurred, ontlie French battleship Jena, at Tonlon. It is estimated that 300 men were killed and 300 injured. HNE UATI'LESUiI* SHATTEItED. LYING IN DRV DOCK. TEIUUI-'U' EXPLOSION'S. ' LASTING NEAItLY AN HOCl!. VESSEL ENVELOPED IN i'LAMKS. DESTRUCTION STAYED BY FLOODING. Received March 13, 10.5:1 p.m. Paris, March 13. The Jena was one of the finest French battleships, and Hew the Hag of Admiral Manceron, comma oiling the second division of the Jlediter- ; reau squadron. The battleship was being dry-docked in the Missessy basin. During luncheon hour the powder magazine was left open for ventilation. -There was 25 tons of powder, and many shells aboard. . Suddenly a torpedo exploded in _tue after magazines supplying the 12-inch

was quickly followed by a far more terrible explosion, ripping up the after-deck and destroying thei stern. A fire broke out, and was quickly blazing from stein to stern. A succession of deafening explosions followed every few minutes for nearly an hour, as the ammunition stores away from the supporting timber, the battleship roUed over on to flood the dock failed for gome time, owing to the difficulty in opening the sluices. Finally the battleship Patrie fired ft gun, blowing the gates open. The iniruah of water extinguished the fire and flooded the magazine, stopping the explosion of the shells. Lieutenant Kout was killed while (heroically endeavoring to open the pluice gates. The flames nearly reached the battleships Suffren and Bouvet. . The dockyard firebrigadc displayed! treat heroism. The electric cable wires at the quays jused, electrocuting several workmen. CREW PANIC-STRICKEN. imprison KP ON DOOMED SHIP. SEVERAL KILLED IN THE CITY. FLYING FRAGMENTS HURLED 500 YARDS. [THE BATTLESHIP A TOTAL LOSS. EIGHTY KILLED, TWENTY SERI-, OUSLY HURT. SYMPATHY UNIVERSAL. ■ Received March 13, 11.12 p.m.

I Paris, March 3. Ten men in the port gun turret jrere killed at the first explosion. Paris waß deeply affected. There was indescribable panic among the crew, owing to the impossibility of escaping from the fire and exploding shells. Many jumped into the dock, 60 feet below, and were killed. A number who were rescued were Bcorched and blackened, and had ait hair burnt off their bodies. •_ Fragments of shells were hurled 500 yards away. Several persons were killed in toe city, including a baby. Before the second explosion a few officers and men, who were on deck, : escaped over the shore gangways. j Most of the crew were below;, and experienced a horrible time, owing to the fire and exploding shells. The wildest rle ports were at first current regaining the fritalj'tie*. aii|l| damage to docks and city, but the) .Were much exaggerated. The authorities are still, however, quite unable to give reliable estimates. They admit the Jena is a total los?-, and believe eighty wore killed and twenty seriously injured, while many were slightly injured. Those killed include Adiganl, captain ®£ the Jena, and Commandant Tertier. who was burnt in his cabin, the doorway of which was blocked with debris and prevented his escape. Admiral was badly burnt. The first and second engineers, the surgeon and several other officers were killed The origin of the disaster is doubtt Admiral Biename attributes it to spontaneous combustion amongst the Edward telegraphed his sympathy, which is universally expressed.