PHILLIPAR DISASTER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 118, 21 May 1932, Page 7

PHILLIPAR DISASTER

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS TOLL OF BLAZING LINER SAFETY EQUIPMENT BAD NO FIRE ALARM GIVEN (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. AD LN, May 19. Serious disclosures arc expected at the inquiry. It is stated that there were no fire drills and some of the passengers declare that the lifebelts were torn, and hoses were rotten, which seems incredible on a maiden voyage. AH agree that no alarm was given. Three sailors in the forward cabin were unaware of the fire until two hours after it had gained a hold. A Paris message states that when attention was directed to the criticisms of tho passengers, an official of the Messageries Maritimes replied that he could only refer correspondents to Captain Vicq’s report detailing tho measures taken to save life, emphasising the passage therein relating to the rapidity of the spread of the flames.

CAPTAIN’S REPORT. RAPIDITY OF THE FIRE. PRAISE FOR THE CREW. PARIS, May 19. Captain Vicq’s report published by the Minister of Marine states: “When a woman passenger gave the alarm 1 went to tho spot and found the fire spreading rapidly. Although the firefighting apparatus was brought into play, I ordered the ship to lie to and ent out an S.O.S. by wireless. The post and subsidiary post on the captain's bridge were aflame almost simultaneously, although far from the main ''eat of the outbreak. “Passengers on the deck where the lire originated were unable to leave their cabins owing to the frightful rapidity of the spread of tho flames nnd perished asphyxiated. A few who di row themselves into the sea were saved. “The order of evacuation was women and children, then the other passengers, then the crew and officers. “The Sovictskaia, Contractor, and Mahsud picked up those rescued. We could have saved everybody if the incredible rapidity of the fire had not caught the victims at the start. “The passengers remained perfectly •alm and the officers and crow showed admirable devotion. I left the ship •it 8 o’clock when she was a huge burning mass and was picked up by the Sovietshkaia, which transferred her survivors to the Andre Lebon at 10 o’clock.”

Tho missing are now believed to total 50. Some who booked at Saigon did not travel. An English passenger assorts that tho deaths were due to failure to awaken the sleepers. LITTLE HOPE FOR MISSING. VESSEL STILL BLAZING. ADEN, May 19. Little hope ia entertained of the discovery of tho missing. A Dutch doctor and his wife saw their two children burned to death. The Georges Phillipar is still blazing, drifting northwards. ABOUT FIFTY MISSING. TOTAL NUMBER RESCUED. [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, May 19. The London office of the Messageries Maritimes this evening stated that tho total number of passengers and crew saved from the Georges Phillipar is now known to be 717, leaving approximately 50 unaccounted for.