NATAL CALAMITY.

Waikato Times, Issue 12189, 26 September 1911, Page 5

NATAL CALAMITY.

BATTLESHIP BLOWN UP. ! A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION. SHIP BROKEN IN HALVES. (Per Press Association.—Copyright.) PARIS, Sept. 25. A shocking naval calamity happened at Marseilles, to-day. A fire broke out in the ammunition hold o'f the French battleship Liberte, causing a series of terrible explosions. It is feared that 500 officers and men. have perished. The first explosion took place at five o'clock in the morning, and the second and third an hour later. About 100 of those aboard the battleship sprang] into the water and most of these were rescued. The last explosion broke the Liber te dn halves, and she sank in 19 minutes. AN AWFUL SIGHT. CREW ORDERED TO THEIR POSTS. SUCCESSION OF EXPLOSIONS. SANK LIKE A STONE. (Received Sept. 25, 9.30 a.m.) PARIS, Sept. 25. Little danger was at first apprehended from the fire on the battleship Lifc(erte,, but then the fire gained and reached the fore ammunition hold. An explosion followed and a hundred men on deck jumped overboard. The rest of the crew were awakened and rushed on deck. They were 'about to jump overboard, but were ordered to tneir posts. Four explosions followed the first in quick succession. The vessel forward was wrapped in a sheet of flame, which was rising to a considerable height. With the fifth explosion the vessel sank like 'a stone. BODIES HURLED IN THE AIR. 450 MEN MISSING. Men were hurled into the air and were dead when they reached the water. When the smoke cleared, part of the hulli was seen still above water, surrounded by a tangled mass of spears and wreckage. Manyf of those injured were clinging to the wreckage. Assistance from other warships was promptly sent* Commander Jaures, brother of the Soeialist leader was absent on furlough and Captain Joubert was in command when, thef disaster occured. The smoke from the burning battleship enveloped the roadstead. Three hundred and fifty men are missing from the Liberte and a hundred, including men from ottoar ships and rescuers were also lost. A large hole was made in the battleship Republique by flying debris and she also lost fifty men. The Democratic and Verite were also badly damaged <f losing 20 killed and fifty injured. The Repu'bliiqjuej was hurriedly docked.