EXPLOSION ON A FRENCH BATTLESHIP.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8380, 14 March 1907, Page 5

EXPLOSION ON A FRENCH BATTLESHIP.

THREE HUNDRED MEN KILLED.

Received March 13, 8.30 a.m.

PARIS, March 12. An explosion occurred on the French battleship Jena at Toulon. It is estimated that 300 men were killed and 300 injured.

HOW THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED. A HEROIC LIEUTENANT. SEVERAL WORRMEN ELECTROCUTED. Received March 13, 10.53 p.m. PARIS, March I*3. The Jena was one of the finest of the French battleships, and flew the flag of Admiral Manceron, commanding the second division of the Mediterranean Squadron. She was dry-docking in the Missessy Basin, and during the luncheon hour the powder magazine was left open for ventilation. There were 25 tons of powcler and many shells aboard. The explosion of a torpedo occurred in the after magazine supplying the 12-inch guns. | This was quickly followed by a far more terrible explosion, ripping up the after deck, and destroying the stern. A fire broke out, blazing in the sterrn and stern in succession. There were deafening explosions every few minutes for nearly an hour as the ammunition ignited. Breaking away from the supporting timber the Zena rolled over on her side. Efforts to flood the dock failed for some time owing to the difficulty in opening the sluices. Finally the battleship Patrie fired a gun blowing the gates open. The inrush of water extinguished the fire, and flooded the magazines, stopping the explosion of shells. Li&utenant Roux was killed heroically endeavouring to open the sluice gates. The flames nearly reached the battleships Suffren and Bouvet. The dockyard fire brigade displayed great heroism. The electric cable wires on the quays fused, electrocuting several workmen. ■

AN INDESCRIBABLE PANIC. SEVERAL PERSONS KILLED IN THE CITY BY FRAGMENTS OF SHELLS. CREW EXPERIENCE A HORRIBLE TIME. PARIS DEEPLY AFFECTED. Received March* 13, 11.12 p.m. . PARIS, March 13. Ten of the men in the port gun turret were, killed at the first explosion. There was an indescribable panic among the crew owing to the impossibility of escaping the fire and exploding shells.* Many jumped into the dock, fifty feet below, and were killed. ' A number of. those who were rescued were scorched and blackened and had their burnt off. . Fragments of the 'shells were hurled 500 yards. Several persons in the city, including a baby, were killed. Before the second explosion occurred, -a few officers and men on deck escaped over the shore gangways. . .JVlost of .the crew below experienced a horrible time owing to the fire and exploding, shells. ! The wildest reports were at first current as to the fatalities and damage to the docks, and the, city, but these were much exaggerated. The authorities are still quite unable to give reliable estimates. They admit that the Jena is a total loss,: and believe that eighty have been killed, twenty seriously injured, and many slightly injured. The killed include Captain Adigard, of the Jena; Commandant Vertier, who was burnt in his cabin, the doorway being blocked by debris which prevented his escape; the first and second engineers, surgeons and 'other officers. The origin of the disaster is doubtful. Admiral Brenaine attributes the explosion to the spontaneous combustion of powder. King Edward and Sir William Treloar, Lord Mayor of London, have telegraphed their sympathy. Paris is deeply affected by the I fatality. •