BLOWN TO FRAGMENTS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 253, 28 November 1914, Page 9

BLOWN TO FRAGMENTS.

THE LOST BATTLESHIP.

FURTHER DETAILS OF DISASTER. LONDON, November 27. The _.*.' Daily Chronicle" says that . , most of the Bulwark 's v crew were breakfasting below at the.time. Eye-witnesses state that there was a long muffled roar, which was heard at a distance of 14 miles, and a terrific -' * flash was seen, the whole ship momentarily resembling a fireworks display. A great white cloud arose) similar to tha£ produced by a cordite ' explosion. Apparently the forward magazine blew ■ .■'..-. , #?* UP ' < ' _ • When the smoke had cleared away*, not a vestige of the vessel remained. At the time of the explosion the Bulwark was signalling to another ship. The signalling officer watched the smoke ■ clear away, and was astounded to see nothing. Workmen on shore counted the vessels at their moorings, not crediting that one had entirely gone. The harbour was instantly in commotion. Officers and men on ships rushed on deck half-stunned, and rescue boats put off. from all directions. The vessel is visible in three sections

at- low A watei'. .'.' The masts and funnels have gone. A chest of drawers was found in a marsh half a mile away. All glass and crockery in the vessels near by were shattered.

The general opinion at Chatham is that tho bottom of the vessel was blown out. A number of men were drilling on deck at the moment, of the disaster. A sailor on a vessel near by states that there were two heavy reports, followed by a flash of fire. The whole ship seemed to heave find then drop in fragments. Another eye-witness affirms that there were two explosions, one forward and the' other aft, and believes they were simultaneous. The concussion shook the Southend pier, and was felt by hundreds of civilian Germans interned in ships at Southend Roads. The first thought of people ashore was that it was a Zeppelin raid. Then there was a suspicion that an aeroplane seen in the vicinity had thrown bombs on the gasworks, until it was found that the aeroplane was British. Three minutes after the explosion only whirling sea and white foam, specked with caps, wreckage, and kitbags, marked the spot. Fourteen of the crew- are in hospital at Gillingham, suffering from concussion and fractured limbs. Four are. in a critical condition. No officers were saved?- but very few were actually aboard, • A few other craft were moving in the Medway at the time- One boat was protected from the direct effects of the concussion liy the river bank headland, yet it was flung out of the water. When righted, it picked-up a bluejacket. The latter stated that ho was sitting on a grating when the explosion threw him high into the air. He turned sonier- 1

sault after somersault, ami fell in the river, little hurt, and was able to swim /until he js'as picked up..lt is'suggested; ' in Sheerness that the disaster was due to the fall of a twelve-inch lyddite shell in the Bulwark's magazine. Lord Charles Beresford, who once 'commanded the Bulwark, states that

tlie magazine was in a very safe position, ami was protect* by every modern device to keep the ammunition at a right temperature. A shell might have dropped in the shell-room without exploding the magazine. Sir Hiram Maxim says faulty manufacture of: gun-cotton is impossible ■ under modern conditions of manufacture, but there might have been some accidental fulminating powder present to set the :cordite off. • Hundreds of the --crew- were Portsmouth men.

There were pathetic, scenes at the barracks among grief-stricken women.