THE NAVAL DISASTERS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12452, 30 April 1908, Page 5

THE NAVAL DISASTERS.

The Loss of the Gala.

Another Accident.

Press Association.— Telegraph.— Copyright. Received April 30, 8.50 a.m. LONDON, April 29. The Admiralty states that Lieutenant Fletcher, not Lieutenant Drought, is missing. The Gala and 15 destroyers attacked the Attentive and Adventure, which were manoeuvring with masked lights in a very rough sea. Following the Ettrick's successful attack on the Adventure, the Gala, Ripple, and Teviot, at a speed of 12 knots, attacked the Attentive, which, seeing that a collision was inevitable, turned on her searchlight. The Attentive struck the Gala on the port side, cutting her completely in two. The forepart soon sank. The stern part floated away, and subsequently sank. The crew were rescued, except Lieut. Fletcher, who is supposed to have been killed while asleep in his cabin. The Attentive, after getting clear of the Gala, struck the Ripple, knocking a large hole in her side and flooding two compartments. The battleship Britannia, while voyaging from Queensferry to Portsmouth, burst a boiler tube, seriously injuring five men. LONDON, April 29. The Coroner directed the jury in ths Gladiator's inquest that no criminal responsibility had been disclosed, and a verdict was returned of accidental death.