FIRE OR SHARKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 116, 18 May 1932, Page 7

FIRE OR SHARKS.

HORRIFYING DEATH.

BLAZING LINER. Fate of 225 Aboard Remains A Mystery. SURVIVORS' STORIES. (Uuibed P.A.—Electric Telegraph-Copyright) (Received 1 p.m.) ADEN, May 17. Death either in the flames or in shark-infested waters may be the fate of some of the 225 of the Georges Philippar's passengers and crew who are still missing. It had been hoped that when the actual number that the Sovietskaia rescued was made known, the possible death roll would have been greatly reduced, but the Sovietskaia's transference of 420 to the Andre Lebon accounts for only 673. The latter vessel is proceeding at full speed to Djibouti. No precise figures of either passengers or crew have yet been published, but it is emphasised that if the Georges Philippar had had her full complement she would have been carrying over 1000 persons. It is still hoped that other ships, including the Otranto and the Kaiser-i-Hind, have picked up some. The Liverpool vessel Contractor has reached Aden with surviors, who state that the fire started at 2 a.m. in the first-class cabin through a wire fusing.

It is believed that from 80 to 100, mostly first-class passengers, were trapped, and that some are dead.

The fire spread rapidly. There were harrowing scenes when the boats were launched, many passengers jumping into the sea, but the Contractor was unable to reach them. Captain's Denial.

Captain Vicq scouts the suggestion that some of the passengers were trapped in the Georges Philfppar's cabins. Hβ 6ays positively that he was the last soul aboard.

It is believed that the Otranto has five injured aboard. Captain Owen, of the Contractor, stated in a wireless message that he reached the Georges Philippar three hours after seeing fire on the horizon 35 miles away. There were hundreds of people on the poop and forecastle-head. He launched his boats and rescued 130. He was told that many first-class passengers were trapped in their cabins. A French engineer told Captain Owen that the fire began in an empty cabin-de-luxe through a short-circuit and travelled rapidly through the state rooms. The survivors were in night attire and lost everything.

The Contractor ie due at Aden to-day. The search for othe: eurvivors continues.