THE BRUSSELS FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 899, 19 August 1910, Page 5

THE BRUSSELS FIRE.

A LOSS OF TWO MILLIONS. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. London, August 17. Great Britain has suggested to Belgium that a joint board of experts should apportion the responsibility in connection with the Brussels Exhibition fire. It is possible the BelgiaJi Government will be liable for amounts not recoverable under insurances.

"The Times" estimates the total loss at two million pounds sterling.

The newspaper "Journal de Bruxelles" justifies the complaints of correspondents that the firemen were unable to find tho hydrants, and that the hoses were too short. 'While the fire was spreading the firemen squabbled as to leadership. Another great fault was following, instead of isolating, the Are.

Other statements are to the effect that the hose in the British section was taken out directly the Belgian section was threatened, but that the pressure of water was only equal to that of a toy squirt. '

Five attendants, finding it impossible to stay the fire, attempted to save the art furniture and tapestry, but excited soldiery and police rushed in with fixed bayonets and forced them to leave tho building. The safe containing some goldsmith's work and uncut diamonds from the De Beers' mine, which was buried in the debris of the Belgian section, has been recovered. • '\ . "The Times" asserts tha't, a watchman has admitted that.when he' I .was lighting his pipe he caused the Brussels fire.