PANIC IN PRAGUE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18634, 8 March 1926, Page 9

PANIC IN PRAGUE.

AMMUNITION EXPLODES. HEAVY CASUALTY LIST. (BT CABLE—PBteSS ASSOCIATION—COFYrUGHT.) (AUSTRALIA* AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received March 7th, \o p.m.) PRAGUE, March 6. t A transport consisting of five waggons, laden with artillery and explosives, exploded as a result of a box of hand grenades falling to the ground and setting off the entire transport. Ihc report was heard fifteen miles away. Tho scene was one of indescribable confusion. Two soldiers were blown to atoms and one was hurled through a third storey window. It is difficult to obtain an accurate estimate of the dead owing to the confusion, but it is believed that 100 wero injured. Glass, stones, bricks, and masonry were scattered over a wide area, and hardly a window was not broken. Shrinks of agony could be heard from the Duses as well as the streets, and the hospitals were soon filled with victims, some of whom had lost both legsHorses, shockingly maimed, dashed wildly through panic stricken crowds, and had to be caught and shot. Pedestrians were geen runnin_ through the streets with clothing torn and blood stren.u-ing from their wounds. The whole city is seething with excitement and the crowds are enraged because the munitions were alleged to be transported in unprotected waggons. The police have reported that they are investigating the possibility of a plot. High officials are being rushed to the scene. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received March 7th, 5.5 p.m.) PRAGUE, March 6. While the main street was crowded in the lunch hour with promenaders, a waggon fully laden with ammunition and guarded by five soldiers, blew up. An indescribable panic ensued. When the smoke cleared it was found that five were killed and 92 injured. Several houses were demolished. TWENTY KILLED. {AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received March 7th, 5.5 p.m.) PRAGUE, March 6. Despite the low figures issued, the authorities believe that over twenty were killed and 100 injured.