EXPLOSION ON BATTLESHIP.
AMERICAN SAILORS KILLED.
By Onbli -Pr.ss Association —Copyright (Received 11.30 p.m., June 13.)
SAN FRANCISCO, June 12,
A telegram from San Pedro (California) states that forty men were killed and twenty injured when turret. No. 2 of the battleship Mississippi, blew up during firing practice off here. Shortly after the battleships entered the harbour and dropped her anchor, a second explosion occurred on board, rocking the harbour district. A 14rin. shell projectile narrowly missed the passenger steamer Yale at the harbour entrance.
Naval officers here refuse to comment. on the disaster, and a rigid censorship is maintained. According to official information, four powder bags, containing 4501bs of explosive each, were inside the rifle turret.
According to one of the surviving sailors, the 14-in. gun that ignited tlio powder supply, was practising extreme elevation firing, the idea being to take advantage of the battleship’s roll or list to the opposite for the maximum altitude and efficiency of the gun.
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Bibliographic details
Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 14 June 1924, Page 9
Word Count
161EXPLOSION ON BATTLESHIP. Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 14 June 1924, Page 9
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