PARIS TRAGEDY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10245, 23 May 1911, Page 5

PARIS TRAGEDY

CABLE NEWS

United Press Association — By Electric Telegraph—Copyright

MINISTERS SERIOUSLY INJURED. KING GEORGE'S SYMPATHY. (Received May 22, 2 p.m.) PARIS, May 21. King George sent to President Fallieres and to M, Monis's artd M. Berteaux's relatives his sincere sympathy in the disaster which had befallen them in an aviation accident. Sir E. Grey, Foreign Secretary, on behalf of the Government, sent a similar message. The propeller severed M. Berteaux's arm. M. Monis sustained complicated fractures of the leg, and a fractured nose. He is suffering from severe thoracic and abdominal pains, with contraction. A bruise in the region of the liver is considered the only somev'iat serious feature of his internal injuries.

His son, Antoine, seeing the aeroplane approaching, pushed his father down on the ground, and probably saved his life. The projecting part of the machine struck Antoine lightly M. Monis, on recovering consciousness, enquired if any of the others were injured, but M. Berteaux's fate was not mentioned to him. M. Cruppi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, will act temporarily as Minister of War. The aviator and a passenger who was with him escaped uninjured. THE CROWD HORRIFIED. (Received Last Night, 9.10 o'clock.) PARIS, May 22. Hundreds of thousands were present at the Issy Aerodrame. Several aeroplanes had started, when many of the spectators invaded the course. A squadron of Cuirassiers were rdered to clear the ground. They galloped from the grandstand towards the crowd behind an aviator named Train, who was circling to the ground some distance behind the Ministers. The latter were walking by the grandstand. Train was adjusting his balancelto descend, as his machine was not working satisfactorily. He endeavoured to steer round the Cuirassiers. M. Berteaux, noticing the ,*p-. proaching mishap, ran with his arm upraised, shouting a warning to his colleagues. The steel monoplane smashed like i scythe into them, and scattered the group.

A witness saw the motor strike M. Berteaux, and the propeller blade strike M. Monis on the. face and down the body. The crowd was horrified, and immediately dispersed. Sixty were injure"! in the crush at the exits. At M. Monis's instance the race will be resumed to-day. M. Monis is suffering less pain internally. The doctors have injected anti-tetanus serum as a precaution.

A SERIOTJS CRISIS. I Received This Morning, 12.15 o'clock. LONDON, May 22. Reuter's Paris ' correspondent reports that M. Monis's presence in Parliament is considered to be indespensable, especially in connection with i electoral reform. Some of the Ministers share the impression that the Cabinet must resign. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. 'CONTROL WANTED IN LONDON. THE FRENCH SITUATION. Received Last Night, 11.40 o'clock.) LONDON, May 22. The Times, commenting on the accident at Lssy, says that the awful ob- ' ject lession suggests that it is the urgent duty of the Home Office to confer with'the Commissioner of Police, and if necessary advise the passing of a short .Bill for the control of aviation during the Coronation period. Regarding the crisis, the Times adds.that M. Monis owned that his position was largely due to M. Jaures's approval. M. Beretaux was his right* hand man. and was'instrumental -in retaining Socialist support"for him. His loss would be doubly felt, owing 'o the present situation in Morocco. Mr Berteaux could persuade the Socialises to condone, if not to accept a policy. They would possibly be less ready to accept it, when presented by others.