FRENCH RAILWAY DISASTER

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21050, 29 December 1933, Page 9

FRENCH RAILWAY DISASTER

PROOF THAT SIGNALS FAILED MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD (U!UTKI> FR*SS ASSOCIATION —TIT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.) (Received December 28, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, December 27. The death-roll in the Lagny train disaster is now placed at 203. The release of the driver and fireman followed proof that the signals had not acted, the detonators had not exploded, and the automatic warning whistle had not sounded. There is a widespread ciamour for the speedy scrapping of all wooden carriages, the cost of which would run into millions of pounds. There were moving scenes at ; the memorial service at Gare de I'Est, 600 relatives oi: the victims being present. IvTagnificent wreaths fioin the Government, the Minister for Marine, and the railway company rested against 1 lie? black-draped cenotaph, above which shone a (lame of remembrance. As the President (M. Albert Lebrun) and members of the Government entered, the band played the poignant strains of Beethoven s "Funeral March." M. Renaudin, president of the Eastern Railway Company, delivered the funeral oration. His reference to "travellers embarking on a short Christmas Eve journey, all unknowing that it was the longest journey, from which they would not return!" profoundly moved the mourners.

The 'Minister for Public Works, M. Pierre Paganon, declared that it was certain that an impartial enquiry must be made.

SENSATIONAL KVfDENCE AT ENQUIRY

COMPLAINTS ABOUT SIGNALS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED (Received December 2<i, ll.ati p.m.) LONDON, December 23. The Paris correspondent of the "News-Chronicle" says M. Charpentier, fireman on Uk; Strasbourg Flyer, said at an oilicial enquiry at Lagny that in the last lo months both hi' and the driver, M. d'Audigny, had frequently reported signal failures, but their reports had not even been acknowledged.

KING GEORGE'S SYMPATHY

»i: u I 11*;[ r/.i' wjrki.e ' RUGBY, December 27. His Majesty the King has sent the following telegram to the French President: "1 was very distressed and shocked to hear that the railway accident at Lagny resulted in such heavy loss of life and so much grievous sufTering. f would ask you lo accept on behalf of 'he French nation this expression of my heartfell sympathy at the terrible disaster wi.'.eh has east a shadow over the Christmas season."