AWFUL NAVAL CALAMITY.
FRENCH BATTLESHIP SUNK.
* BLOWN IN HALVES;
HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST.
AMMUNITION HOLD AFIRE.
SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS.
By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright
(Eeceived September 26, 1 a.m.) Paris, September 25. A shocking naval calamity happened at Marseilles to-day. A fire broke out*in the ammunition hold of the French battleship Liberie, causing a series of terrible explosions. - It is feared that 500 officers and men have perished.
The first explosion took place at five o'clock in the morning, and the second and third an hour later.
About 100 of those aboard the battleship sprang into the water and most of these were rescued.
The last *■ explosion broke the Liberte in halves, and she sank in 19 minutes. - . . ,
< The Liberte was one of a class of > four battleships having a normal displacement of 14,900 tons and a complement of 793. She was laid down in 1903 and completed in 1907 at an estimated cost of £1,425,000. The other three vessels of the same type are the Democratic, the Justice, and the Verite. All carry the following' guns :— Four 12in, ten 7.6 in, 13 nine-pounders, and ten three-pounders. The Liberte was 452 ft in length with a beam of 79Aft, and a maximum draught of 28ft. Her engines were 18,000h.p., capable of developing a speed of 18 knots. ■••■'■■!
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14795, 26 September 1911, Page 5
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215AWFUL NAVAL CALAMITY. New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14795, 26 September 1911, Page 5
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