The Sentinel=record., 1911-09-26
4OO DEAD IN
 EXPLOSION
LARGEST SHIP OF THE FRENCH NAVY BLOWN TO ATOMS BY
 EXPLOSION OF MAGAZINES
Disaster the Greatest Probably Ever Known in Naval Circles and the Death List May Reach
 Even Higher.

Toulon, France, Sept. 25-The bat. tleship Liberte was torn apart and totally destroyed by an explosion of her magazines today.
 Between $50 and 400 officers and. men are dead or missing. The bat ltleship Republique was badly dam aged, and the battleships Democratic and Verite also suffered severely from the masses of twisted iron and armor plate which was hurled upon their decks.
 This is the greatest disaster that has ever fallen upon the French navy and in magnitude is almost without precedent in the annals of the world 5 lighting ships.
 The grief which prostrates the fleet and nation is made more intense by 1.-the memory of the recent review here. notable display of Frances naval greatness in whieh the doomed ship was one of the finest figures.
 The explosion, which wiped out one of F1ande's newes tand most powerful battleslhips, occurred at :53 o'clock in the morning. 1t was the result of an outbreak of fire. The flames spread rapidly in spite Of all efforts to master them and reached the magazines before there was time to flood them.
 The magazines exploded with tre Imendous violence. sowing death and destructon in every dreetion.
 While the naval authorities esti- mate the fatalities at 800, it is ex- pected this figure will be exceeded. EIt will be necessary to go through the ship muster rolls, a task of some days before a full list of the vic- tins can be prepared.
 A number of men already have been extricated alive from the fantastical- i ly torn and twisted mass of wreck age which once was the Liberte, and the hope is strong there are others within the broken hulk who can be reached.
 Exactly from what cause or when the fire broke out has not been es tablished, but it is believed it had lsmouldered for hours. Of the yes lsers full complement of 742, Captain Jaures. brother of the socialist lead CT, and the second officer in con- mand were both ashore on leave, as well as 14O officers and men The command of the ship devolved upon the senior lieutenant, Who perished.
 The fire was first discovered at f a. m. and the bugles immediately sounded an aarm The crew rush ed to quarters and fought desperately the spreading flames, but it soon was evident that the fire had obtained a firm hold
 Signals of distress were flashed to the other ships, and these dispatch ed steam pinnaces and launches at full speed to assist in the work of extinguishing the flames and rescu- ing tGe men. Their services were of | little avail.
 The position of the fire made it inn possible to flood the magazines. nevertheless, efforts to do so were made. and finally the commanding of ficers realizing the ship was doom ed ordered the buglar to sound the "sauve Qui Peut," Get him save him self who cam and shouted to the men to jump for their lives.
 At 5:35 the first explosion occur red. It was followed by three ota- CTS at one minute intervals. Then came the final terrific detonation which shattered the windows of the entire city and was heard for a ra- dius of many mics.
 The Liberfe was rent asunder her bow was thrown high in the air. and then slowly settled down, and in nine teen minutes nothing was visible but the top works.
 Those still on deck were hurled skyward amid shower of iron and steel. The boats of the rescuers were sunk and serious damage was done to the Republique which lay at Ianchor close by. Two or her decks were stove in, and one of the IL berte's armor plates was hurled lagainst her pogtside and demolished Inc cabin Of an absent ensign.