MUNITIONS EXPLODE

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 March 1926, Page 5

MUNITIONS EXPLODE

IN PRAGUE’S MAIN STREET. ‘ i many Killed and wounded. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) (By Gable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) 7 t ■ . ■ . PRAGUE, March b. While the main street 'of the city was crowded at the lunch hour witn promenaders, a wagon fully laaen with ammunition, and ; guarded, by five soldiers, blew up. iAn indescribable panic ensued. .When the snioke cleared, it was found that five had been : killed and ninety-two injured. Several houses were demolished. Later. The transport consisted 1 of five wagons laden with artillery explosives. The explosion was the . resuit of a box of hand-grenades falling to' the ground and then setting off the entire .'transport, the concussion of which was heard fifteen ’miles away. The scene was one of indescribable confusion. Two soldiers were blown to atoms. One was hurled through a third storey lyindow. It is difficult to obtain an accurate estimate of the dead, owing to the confusion. It is believed that one hundred are injured. Glass, stones, bricks and masonry were scattered over a' wide area. Hardly a window was not broken. Shrieks of agony were heard in houses as well as in the streets. The hospitals were soon filled with victims, some of whom had lost both their legs. Horses, shockingly maimed, dashed wildly through the panic-stricken crowds. They had to be caught and shot.

Pedestrians were to’ be seen running through the streets with torn clothing and blood streairiing;- The whole city, was seething with excitement. The . crowds were enraged because the muriitions were alleged to have been transported in unprotected wagons; : _ The police are reported to be” investigating the possibility. of a plot. High officials rushed to the scene.