SUSPECTED SABOTAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1939, Page 7

SUSPECTED SABOTAGE

FIRE ON FRENCH LINER VESSEL SERIOUSLY DAMAGED. ITALIAN DOCKER ARRESTED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, April 19. A serious fire broke out in the French liner Paris at Le Havre last night. It began in the ship’s bakery at 11.30 p.m. and rapidly spread to the principal saloon and promenade deck, which was ablaze at 12.30 a.m.

Two ship’s firemen fell into the hold while fighting the flames. One was killed and the other seriously injured. The Paris correspondent of “The Time-'” says that the flames were slowly being brought under control at 2 a.m., but it is feared that most of the passenger accommodation has been destroyed. Sabotage is suspected. According to the British United Press an Italian docker has been arrested. The liner had £150.000 worth of art exhibits aboard for the New York World’s Fair. The vessel was due to sail today. SHIP SUNK FORTY FEET FROM SIDE OF DOCK. CAUSE OF DISASTER REMAINS A MYSTERY. LE HAVRE, April 19. The transatlantic liner Paris, belonging to the Compagnie General Transatlantique, which was seriously damaged in a fire which broke out last night, sank today 40 feet from the side of the dock. The art treasures on board, also several of the latest type of French aeroplanes bound for the New York World’s Fair, were saved in the nick| of time. The sunken liner is obstructing the entrance to the dry dock in which the Normandie is lying. Her masts and funnels must be cut away before the Normandie can be refloated. It might be possible to refloat the Paris and a gangway has already been .flung from the dock to her. Before the vessel sank there were moments of anxiety for the safety of 400 dockers who were working aboard her. A crane was swung out to rescue three police officers who were the last aboard. Two of them were swung ashore, but the third dropped to the dock from the crane and was seriously injured. The cause of the disaster remains a mystery. As a result of warnings sent from the Surete to the shipowners that sabotage might be expected at Le Havre, the watch on the ships in port [had been doubled for several days, and all visitors were prohibited. It is stated that the Italian, who was arrested, does not appear to be connected with the fire. The Paris was due to sail for New Yqrk today carrying 3000 visitors to the World’s Fair, in addition to other passengers. The rescued art treasures are now being placed aboard the liner Champlain. DEATHROLL OF TWO. HEAVY INSURANCE ON HULL. (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) LE HAVRE, April 19. A fireman from the Paris died as a result of injuries. The death roll is now two. It is feared that art works, including Picassos and Renoirs, were sunk. It is understood that the hull was insured for half a million sterling, over half of the amount placed in London. It appears that the engine room and holds were not affected,