THE AMERICAN DISASTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 32

THE AMERICAN DISASTER.

ARSENAL EXPLOSION. VANCOUVER, July 11. Fire was still raging at midnight among the naval ammunition. The death roll is now placed at between 50 and 75. Scores have been injured. Further explosions are feared. NEW YORK, July 11 A message from Lake Denmark says that 24 hours after the explosion every effort to enter the immediate area of the arsenal was frustrated by the continuance of the fire and the occasional exploding of shells, which, from time to time still bombard the countryside No fewer than 24 villages and towns were destroyed or damaged by the *tonation, while many thousands are homeless Others are homeless because their dwellings are unfitted for occupancy or owing to the fear of further explosions Thou sands of men, women, and children all day left the vicinity, seeking places of safety, whil* hundreds are either entering temporary hospitals for treatment or are leaving them after receiving first aid Various New York chemical firms sent supplies of anti-tetanus serum with which many of the injured are being injected The danger of explosions in tne army arsenal is now not so acute, although the outbuildings of the army reservation nearby are still smouldering The Secretary of War (Mr J. J. Davis) who toured the area in an automobile declared that the army arsenal was now fully protected.A message from Dover says that the known dead on Sunday night were only three or four and 50 injured. The damage to property is estimated at 90,000,000 dollars. The great exaggeration in the number of dead was due to the terrific nature of the explosion which wrecked the largest naval depot in the country. Twenty soldiers and marines, who are missing, are believed to be on leave of absence. A message from Lake Denmark says that thus far only four bodies have been removed, and it may be many days before the debris can be searched. Ten mil lion pounds of powder, mostly T.N.T. and *.wvj,ooo shells exploded Army and navy officials estimate the damage to the arsenals alone at 92.000,000 dollars, which, with the destroyed civilian property, will bring the total perhaps as high as 100,000,000.^ Senator Edge, commenting on the explosion, said it was an outrageous and criminal practice to store high explosives in thickly populated centres, and he would introduce a measure lor the removal cf such depots to sparsely settled areas. NINE DEATHS REPORTED. NEW YORK, July 11. A message despatched from Dover late on Sunday night states that the deaths have increased to nine Twenty-five persons are missing and several hundred are injured. The damage is estimated at 93,000,000 dollars. i)EAD NUMBER SIXTEEN. NEW YORK, July 12. News from Dover states that the dead, due to the explosion, numbered l 6 on Monday. Two hundred buildings cut of o»a) located in the depot reservation were destroyed.