DISASTER AT SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1920, Page 5

DISASTER AT SEA.

f LOSS OF THE AFRIQUE. • ONLY THIRTY SURVIVORS. By Telegraph.—PrMi Aun.-CopjTlght. 1 London, Jan. 30. The loss of the Afrique Is the biggtft disaster in the history of the French mercantile marine. Thus far only tbfrty are saved out of 488 on board, ofwlttßtt 192 were Senegalese riflemen. Tugs and naval vessels are searching for the boats, but owing to the ttfriblo seas running there is little hope of Buoy further survivors being rescued. The survivors relato how the finer Ceylan came to the Afrique's assistance in response to distress signals when the storm was at its worst, and was escorting her to port when the Afrique struck the Plateaux Roehebonne, a well-known* reef fifty miles from Rochelle, two fathoms below the surface.

The impact came with a terrific shock at midnight. The ship was plunged into darkness owing to the dynamos failing. The wireless operator was just able to raise enough power to send out despairing S.O.S. signals. The captain, realising that the Afrique waß doomed, ordered the boats to be launched despite the huge waves, The Ceylan meanwhile had been unable to keep close owing to the heavy seas. She wirelessed that she was keeping a parallel course, and wbuld meet the Afrique at a given spot at dawn.

The Ceylan received the call "5.0.5.: we cannot keep afloat till* dawn," followed by another: "Wo are abandoning Hie ship."

The Ceylan then closed in and commenced a.desperate search in the darkness for boats. She was able to rescue a few people, but there was no trace of the Afrique at daylight. She struck the rocks and sank rapidly.

SIX BODIES FOUND. 1 DECORATED AMERICAN SOLDIERS; Received Jan. 10, 0.5 p.m. Paris, Jan. 14. Boats from Nantes picked up six bodies of the Afrique's victims, including three decorated American soliders.—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HEAVY GALES AT SEA. BELGIAN MAIL BOAT SWEPT. London, Jan, 13, Gales are general in British and French seas, and numerous wrecks of coastal vessels are reported. Two enormous seas swept the deck of a Belgian mailboat hound from Dovet to Ostend. Many persons were injured, and the-roll call disclosed that two men and (wo women were missing.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.