New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-07
FRENCH WARSHIP SUNK
BAD ACCIDENTS KEEP UP.
S"&picioa Caused by Fire Nem
Hochf's Nagocinc in Dock.

Toulon. France July G.-Thc batteship Hoche
had narrow escape from destruction last night.
Fire broke out near her powder magazine and
to prevent the spread Of the flames the battle
ship sunk in a slip adjoining the one in
which the hatueshp lena was wrecked by an
explosion, with sreat loss of life. on March l.
last.
The fire. which broke out IN the sailroom, as
did the fire which destroyed the French torpedo
schoolship AIgeciras here on November -, 1906,
resulting i'm the loss of three lives is a mystery.
and as this is the third conHag gra tion to break
out on board ships at Toulon within a month
the incident has created much disquietude in
naval circles and a rigid inquiry is being made.
II was officially announced tonight that the
damage to the HoChe slight. The fire broke
out mySteriOusly in roll Of painted canvas
and spread 10 the linoleum covering OF the mag
aZine
The Hoche is Of about 900 tons dlsplace-
n1eut completed in 1889, has belt of COM
pound armor from II to Is inches thick, and
carries a crew Of about 500 officers and mer.
Her armament consists of two 134-inch guns.
two 1OS-inch, twelve 5.5-inch, four 2.5-irCn
and a number Of smaller rapid-fre guns Her
speed is estimated at Is knots and she carries
about 500 tons of coal.
A considerable number Of disasters and accidents
have occurred to or on vessels Of the French navy
since the beginning of the year. The list follows;
The submarine boat Algerian sank at her moor
tnEs at Cherbourg January Il, but there was no
loss Of life
The same day the submarine boat "X' became
unmanaGeahle while at sea, off Cherbourg. but was
rescued by torpedo boats and towed back to port
The battIeship Brennus broke from her moOrings
in q storm on February >. and went ashore
Hyares. She was hauled of later. and returned to
Toulon
Torpedo boat no. 33a lost nine men on FEBRUARY
by explosion board she was returning
from a speed trial. which had been unsuccessful
The cruiser Jean Bart went ashore off the north
west coast of Africa on February 70. and became
total wreck. Some of her guns and other fittings
were recovered by French warShips sent I" her
assistance. The crew safely landed.
While engaged in trials Off Toulon on February
oS the torpedo boat destroyer Kabyle three
through an explosion I'm her boiler room She sue
ceeded, however In returning to her moorings un-
der her own steam.
March o. the submarine boat Gymnote struck
rock and stove IN several OF her plates She sue
ceeGed IN mounting to me surface ana was event
ually towed ashore There was no loss Of life.
In man~uvres off Brest on March Il. the coast
defence ship Fulmnante was struck and seriously
damaged the waterllne by torpedo She was
towed into port in sinking condition.
The torpedo boat destroyer Epee rammed tor
pedo boat No 2s3 of Ataccio Corsica, while
mancruvring during the night OF March l.. \
steam pipe burst on No 2S killing two men and
mortally iuiurlng another. She was beached
The battlrshp Charles Martel returned 70 Touon
from a trial on March IS leaking badly at tho
stern
The torpedo boat destroyer Def ran aground dur
ing a fog off Les Ssbes y OloIue and damaged
her bows but she succeeded in getting or and max
Ing port under her steam.
An explosion occurred on March p ~ Cnernon7g
board torpedo BOAT No. -. IHp ner were
severely scalied
The Cruiser Chanzy ran ashore on one % the
Saddle Islands of tie coast Of China, on Man ls.
and became a total wreck. Hcr crew was saved.
4 condenser pipe burst the batueshlp Patre
of Toulon May -. and In consequence she was
obliged abandon her trials and return 10 port \
number OF stokers scalded.
The machinery OF the battcship Democratic
broke down May 50 at Brest in tho course n
her trials and she had he laid mp for repairs
The submarine boat Gymnote sank I'm her dock
at Toulon on June u. owing the careIcssncss II
a workman who opened the suces without notice.
She was badly damaged ny water as to be pro-
uounccd total loss.
During the trial ToElou July Of tho bat
tleship Justice. Joint of the main steam supply
pipe gave way and the stokchoi was AT once fllcd
with steam. \ panic among the stokers followed.
but only one man seriously injured
Finally. the Rubls. while undergoing n trial
lost her plates against the admission Of water,
Cherbourg yesterday. began dIl!nR up with water.
apparently from open valve. which ruined her
electric apparatus.
ploslon which occurred March 70 on board tho
Iene, which was a battleship of about 1900 tons
displacement and $500 horse power. She tho
flagship OF Rear Admiral Manceron. commanding
one of the divisions of the French Mediterranean
sauadrou Tho disaster duo to explosion In
her powder magazine. but the exact Of It
has never beet ascertained. Her entire after
tion was damaged beyond repair and she pro
nounced a total loss