BIG FRENCH LINER

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 92, 20 April 1939, Page 9

BIG FRENCH LINER

SERIOUSLY DAMAGED

SUNK AT MOORINGS

ART TREASURES SAVED

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

LE HAVRE, April 19,

The transatlantic liner Paris, belonging to the Compagnie Generale Transatlantique, was seriously damaged in a fire which Broke out last night, and sank today 40 feet from the side of the dock. Art treasures on board, also several of the latest type of French aeroplanes, bound for the New York World Fair, were saved in the nick of time. The vessel sank five minutes after the last of the art treasures had been brought ashore. The Paris is now lying on her side in 30 feet of water. Smoke is still belching from the unsubmerged part of the superstructure, though huni dreds of tons of water were pumped in during the night. Under the I terrific strain, the hawsers snapped. It is officially stated that the only | victim of the blaze was a boatswain, ! who fell through a hatch. j It is believed that the liner will be written off as a total loss, as it is I comparatively old. | RAPID SPREAD OF FLAMES. The fire began in the ship's bakery at 11.30 p.m. and rapidly spread to the principal saloon and the promenade deck, which was ablaze at 12.30 a.m. Two of the ship's firemen fell into the hold while fighting the flames. The sunken liner is obstructing the entrance to the dry dock in which the Normandie is lying. Her masts and funnels must be cut away before the Normandie can-be refloated. Before the vessel sank there were moments of anxiety for the safety of 400 dockers who were working on board. A crane was swung out to rescue three police officers who were the last aboard. Two of them were swung ashore, but the third dropped tc the dock from the crane and was seriously injured. THE CAUSE A MYSTERY. The cause of the disaster remains a mystery. As a result of warnings sent, from the Surete to ship owners that sabotage might be expected at Ls Havre, the watch on the ships in port had been doubled for several days, and all visitors were prohibited. It is stated that an Italian docker who was arrested does not appear to be ,connected with the fire. The Paris was due to sail for New York today carrying 3000 visitors to the World Fair, in addition to other passengers. The rescued art treasures are now being placed aboard the liner Champlain.

The Paris, which was built in 1921 by Chantier and Atelier at St. Nazaire, was the twelfth largest of the steamships and motor-ships of the world's merchant navy actually in commission. Of 34,569 tons, the Paris was 735 feet 4 inches long, 85 feet 3 inches broad, and 59 feet 1 inch deep. The only ships larger than the Paris are as follows, in order of size:—Normandie, Queqn Mary, Berengaria, Bremen, Rex, Europa, Conte di Savoia, Aquitania, lie de France, Empress of Britain, and New Amsterdam. In comparison with the Paris, the Empress of Britain, which visited Wellington in April last year, is of 42,348 tons and is 733 feet 3 inches long, 97 feet 8 inches broad, and 56 feet deep.