BRITISH BATTLESHIP LOST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16243, 28 November 1914, Page 8

BRITISH BATTLESHIP LOST.

EXPLOSION IK MAGAZINE. OVER SEVEN HDITORED LIVES LOST. LONDON, November 26. Official: H.M.S. Bulwark was blown up in * Sheerness Harbour at eight o'clock this morning. The cause is believed to be owing to an explosion in the magazine. Only 12 men were saved out ®1 780. [The Bulwark was a pro-dreadnought battleship, andi was built in 1898-9. She had a displacement of 15,000 tons and a speed of 18 knots. She carried four 12in guns and 12 6in guns.] ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE COMMONS. MILITARY POSITION NOT AJFFECTED GREATLY. LOSS OF LIFE SEVERE. LONDON, November 26. In the House of Commons, Mr Churchill announced' the disaster. He said that the Admirals were all convinced that an internal magazine exploded and rent the ship asunder. There was no upheaval of water. The Bulwark liad entirely disappeared when the smoke cleared. The loss of the ship had not sensibly affected the military position, but the loss in life is ivery severe. DISAPPEARED IN THREE MINUTES. DEBRIS THROWN FOR SIX MILES. LONDON, November 26. The Bulwark disappeared in three minutes. The explosion shook every building in the vicinity, and same of the debris was thrown a distance of six miles. The concussion was felt at Southend, and dense clouds of smoke arose across the estuary of the Thames. DETAILS OF THE TRAGEDY. A SWIFT DEATH. TERRIFIC NATURE OF EXPLOSION. LONDON, November 27. . (Received Nov. 27, at 11.5 p.m.) The Daily Chronicle states that most of the Bulwark's crew were breakfasting below at the time of the catastrophe. Eye-witnesses state that a long muffled roar was heard 14 miles off, and the terrific flash was seen in Wales, the ship momentarily resembling a fireworks display. A great white cloud arose similar to a cordite explosion; apparently the forward magazine had blown up. When the smoke cleared not a vestige of the vessel remained. At the time of the explosion the Bulwark was signalling to another ship, the signalling officer of which watched the smoke clear, and was astounded to see nothing of the ship. Workmen on the shore counted the vessels at their moorings, not crediting that one had entirely gone from the harbour. Instantly the commissioned officers and men from the ships rushed on deck halfstunned, and rescue boats put off in all directions. The rvessel is visible in three sections at low water. Her masts and funnels have gone. A chest of drawers was found on the marsh half a mile away. All the glass and cTockery in nearly all the vessels was shattered. The general opinion at Chatham is that the bottom of the vessel was blown out.