Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-09-25
EXPLOSION Of A
FRENCH WARSH|P
Over Three Hundred Officers and
Men of Cruiser Liberte
Killed.


erte died today when that warshir
blew up and sank in the roadstead Of
this place. One hundred of the crew
escaped by swimming ashore. 1t va:
at first supposed 500 had drowned bu
because many OF ihe sailors had not re-
turned from Sunday shore leave a
closer estimate OF the dead would be
three hundred.
| A short circuit in store room for
ward is supposed to have caused the
disaster, but as the cause is not known
positively, there is the widest excite,
ment throughout France.
! The disaster bears striking resemb-
lance to the destruction OF the battle
ship Maine in Havana harbor, and this
adds not little to the popular excite
ment.
The Liberte, the finest craft in the
French navy, was commanded by Cap
tain Jaures, brother OF the famous
Socialist. At the time OF the explosion
+ he was absent from the ship, as were
200 members OF the crew.
The fire broke out about 5o'clock
this morning. At $50 the first ex-
plosion occurred, followed by second
and third explosion at 5:45 and $50.
Immediately after the last explosion,
the vessel sank in cloud OF smoke.
Other ships in the squadron sent re-
lief in the intervals between the ex-
plosions and several OF their seamen
were injured in the rescue work.
Many acts of heroism we're performed
during the disaster, the crew sticking
to their posts with martyrlike devotion
to duty.
The force of the explosion of the
main magazines was terrific. Il killed
twenty seamen and injured fifty on the
Democratic, anchored near the ill-fated
battlesbip, and shattered windows all
over Toulon.
One freak OF the explosion was the
wreck OF q launch from the warship,
en- route to the shore to bring back
members OF the liberty party, A gi-
gantic block OF the metal structure of
the Liberte fell on the cutter sending
it to the bottom and drowning or killing
every occupant.
The scenes OF excitement that follow
ed the explosion have never been
equalled in the history OF the navy
yard here. Just before the first ex-
plosion tho alarm that the fire was
dangerous had spread through the
feet and to the naval officers on shore.
Big tugboats, equipped with lighting
apparatus, had started for the naval
anchorage to aid in getting the fire un-
der control when the first explosion
came. It was not OF any great strength
but was enough to indicate TO the ex-
perts on shore that the big batteship,
pride Of the service, was probably
doomed.
When the big magazines fin II ! let
60, tie concussiJn was go severe that
hundreds OF people Oh the dock. were
knocked off theil feet.
Members OF the crew of the iIlfated
warship who we're waiting to return
boar, bssieged the Office Of the poit
commandant and asked TO be sent out
to see il they could disco Ier and rescue
any of their comrades. BY order Of
the port commandant the doo's OF the
yard and naval arsenal were closed,
and information refused until the Off
cials OF the Navy Department At Paris
could be communicated with.
Toulon, France, Sept. 25.-At $3.50
this afternoon, it was semi officially
stated that the list of casualties as the
result OF the destruction OF the war.
ship Liberte numbered BIG. Her total
crew numbered 71O, OF whom 120 were
on shore leave.
The warship Republique was so
badly damaged by the explosion which
| destroyed the Liberte that she had to
be hurriedly drytiocked. The force OF
the explosion broke the Liberte in two,
and het forward part lies on the bot.
tom Of the harbor upside down.
Paris, Sept. a5.-Stunned by France 3
latest disaster, the loss OF the nagnifi-
cent lighting ship Liberte while lying
peacefully swaying at her anchors in
the roadstead at Toulon, the Minister
OF Marine and his assistants took i'm
mediate steps to aid the families OF the
victims and determine the responsible
| ity for the disaster. The news has
convulsed all France, and is every
where accepted as an evil omen coming
as it does on the heels of the peaceful
settlement OF the troubles WITH Ger
many over Morocco. Rejoicing has
been turned into mourning and there
| is a concerted demand to have the en-
tire naval system thoroughly investi-
gated, experts declaring the higher Of
fcers of the navy untitled to command
and the personnel of the rank and file
very low.
There is still much confusion regard
| ing the actual details OF the explosion.
The Minister OF Marine was in commu-
nication by long distance phone with
the port captain at Toulon and received
detailed description OF the disaster.
According to the report the compile
meDt of Liberte was 10 men and 80
officers. OF this number one third oil
the officers, and 120 of the men bad
been given over-Sunday leaves ol
absence.
Most of the crew OF the warship were
sleeping below decks when the fire
broke out. There are several stories
as to where it started. The Minister ot
Marine believes that it broke out in a
store room adjacent to tbe after maga'
zine, and was caused by short circuit
in the liuhtino uiroa