ITALIAN BATTLESHIP BLOWN UP

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2581, 1 October 1915, Page 7

ITALIAN BATTLESHIP BLOWN UP

ACCIDENT IN AMMUNITION CHAMBER ADMIRAL KILLED NEARLY 400 SAVED Bj Telegraph—Press Association—Couyrizb' London, September 29. The Italian battleship Benedetto Bren lias been blown up at Brindisi. Admiral Deccrvin was 'killed. Tiireo hundred and eighty-seven of ' the crew were saved.

A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. STRICT INQUIRY ORDERED. (Rec. September 30, 10.30 p.m.) Rome, September 29. Tlio Benedetto Briii, was accidentally blown up in the harbour. lier crow totalled 720. Only eight officers were saved. The; explosion occurred in,the afterniagazine. It is announced that there is •no question of a foreign agent being concerned in tho disaster. It is expected that-tho disaster will hasten the appointment of a, now Minister of Marine. Signor Salandra (tlio Italian Premier) lias telegraphed ;to tlio Duke d'Abruzzi, commanding the fleet, suggesting that ho should immediately ascertain the caus;s of the disaster, seeking out thoso responsible without regard to persons, «nd thus reassure the country about tho navy, "wJiicli welcomes tlio enemy's blows, but not the immense dangers arising, »perhaps from negligonco and slackness, which must bo revealed and punished." .

SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT NOT. SUNK. (Rec. September 30, 11.'10 p.m.) Rome, Soptomber 30. It is believed tito explosion on the Benedetto Brin was due to a short circuit. The vessel was severely damaged, but not sunk. [The battleship Benedetto Bren (13,214 tons) was launched in 1001, and ! completed four years later. She was [ armed with four 12-inch, four 8-inch, ' and twelve 6-inch guns, and secondary armament. She hud a speed of 19, i knots, and wrkid u complement of 811 ...officers and men.]