"HOTBED OF ANARCHISTS."

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13521, 1 November 1911, Page 8

"HOTBED OF ANARCHISTS."

&LLECATIONS, AT LLBERTE INQUIRY. HOW The French Battleship Was Lost. PAEIS, October 27. The investigation into the explosion which destroyed the battleship liiberte has brought out some startling theories to account for the disaster. " Her commander, Captain Janres, was a Socialist, and M. Henri Rochefort declares that the warship was a hotbed for anarchists. An explosive, the destructive force of which was not known, had been compiled in the shin’s laboratory, and: that was what caused the disaster. -- Another theory advanced is that of negligence when the first reports were received that a fire had broken out. hj ivc explosions, occurred at 5.35, and the biggest at 5.50 p.m. j- : ; . The questions asked at this investigation trended towards the points, Why were tlie magazines not flooded? and, In what state Were the officers in command after Sunday,’ which was a feast day. Admiral Bellue declares the explosion was dne to bad powder. . il. Delcasso opposed him in this opinion, saying that all the powder on the battleship was new, and 'could not be ignited by spontaneous combustion. The inquiry is being continued.