SHELLS EXPLODE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1924, Page 5

SHELLS EXPLODE

ROUMANIAN SENSATION, KING’S NARROW ESCAPE. THE PALACE SHATTERED TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE By Telegraph—Preu Asan.—Copyright. Received May 29, 5.5 p.m. Bucharest, May 29. Reduced to a state of panic following on the explosion of 12,000 shells in an arsenal close to the Royal castle, the windows of which were shattered and valuables smashed, King Ferdinand had a narrow escape from death as the result of a falling shell. Princess Heana, the King’s youngest daughter, is safe. A fire followed in the military depot and several girls were killed. There was a fire also in a girls’ school, but the fate of the girls is not known at the present time. The arsenal was destroyed. Received, May 29, 7.20 p.m. London, May 29. The Daily Express says the arsenal was a quarter of a mile from the castle. The explosion shook every building for miles around, shells being hurled into the air and into the neighbouring buildings. King Ferdinand, who was walking with the Minister for War, rushed to the spot and insisted on approaching so closely that General Mardaresco had to push him back. Almost immediately a shell dropped, blowing a great hole. Princess Deana was in die castle. She and the servants were shaken but were unhurt. The shells, which recently arrived from the Skoda works, exploded in quick succession, deafening and terrifying the population, who believed that the city was being bombarded. Every window in the principal street was smashed. Blveral workmen are believed to have been trapped and burnt to death in the military depot nearby. A fire also broke out in a girls’ schocl. The girls rushed screaming into the street. The Senate Chamber, which was sitting, adjourned as it feared that the domes of Parliament House would crash at any moment. The arsenal plant was destroyed, including a thousand railway wagons. Queen Marie, who is still in London, witnessed Bernard Shaw’s “Saint Joan” at the New Theatre, where she was informed of the explosion. On being told that there were no deaths at the castle she exclaimed: “Thank God for that.”