The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
Magazines of the Battleship Liberte Exploded
 By Fire IS THE GREATEST
 FRENCH DISASTER Battleship Republique Is Also Badly Damaged By Force of the EX- plosion-Number of Dead
 Is Only Estimated

totally destroyed by an explosion oi her magazine today. Four hundred of ficers and men were killed, The bat tleshlp Republique was badly damag ged and the battleships Democratique and verite also suffered severely from the masses of twisted iron and armor plate that were hurled upon their decks.
 This is the greatest disaster that has ever fallen upon the French navy and in magnitude is almost without pre- cedent In the annals of the world s fighting ships. The grief which pros trates the fleet and nation is made more intense by the memory of. the re- cent review here, notable display of Frances naval greatness, in which the doomed ship was one of the finest fig ures. A6
 The explosion, which wiped out one of Frences newest and most powerful 1 ships, occurred at 5:53 o'clock In the morning. It was the result of an out break of fire. The flames spread rap idly in spite of all efforts to master them and reached the magazines be- fore there was time to flood them. The magazines exploded with tremendous violence, strewing death and destruc- tion in every direction. While the na- val antiquities estimate the death list at 400 it is expected this figure will be exceeded. It will be necessary to go through the ship muster roll, task of some days, before list of the vic tims can be prepared.
 Some Are Saved
 aIr alive form the wreckage of the Liberte and the hope is strong that there are others in the broken hull that can be rescued Of the vessels full comple- ment of TAP, Captain Jaures. brother of the socialist leader and the second of ticer in command, were both ashore on leave, as well as 40 officers and men. The command of the ship devolved upon the senior lieutenant, who perished. s The fire was first discovered at 4 a. m, and the bugles Immediately sounded an alarm. The crew rushed to quarters and fought despera tely the spreading flames, but 1t soon was evil dent that the fire had obtained firm hold Signals of distress were flashed to the other ships and these dispatched steam pinnaces and launches at full speed to assist in the work of extin- men. Their services were of little avail. The position of the fire made it i'm possible to flood the magazines, never theless efforts to do 80 were made and finally the commanding officers, realiz- ing the ship was doomed, ordered the .bugler to sound the "Sauve Qui Peut," Get him save himself who cam, and shouted to the men to jump for their lives.
 Occurred Early
 At 5:53 the first explosion occurred. 1t was followed by three others at one minute intervals. Then came the final terrific detonation which shattered the windows of the entire city and was heard for radius of many miles. The Liberte was rent asunder her bow was thrown high in the air and then slowly settled down and in 19 minutes nothing was visible but the top works
 Those still on deck were hurled sky ward amid a shower of iron and steel. The boats of the rescuers were sunk and serious damage was done to the Republique which lay at anchor close by. Two of her decks were stove in and one of the Liberties armor plates was hurled against her portsde and demol- ished the cabin of an absent ensign. For few minutes after the final explosion an intense black cloud of smoke hov- cred over the harbor. When it shifted a horrible spectacle met the eyes of the people of Toulon. who, awakened by the first explosions, had hurried to the shore. The twisted upper works of the battle ship were protrudng from mass of forna}ess wreckage. among which strug- gled the seamen from rushing boats that had been sunk by the flying debris, or sucked down In the maelstrom.
 N Late tonight the naval authorities de- clared that the number of victims Is greater than at first appeared. The of ficial estimate is now given as between $50 and 400 dead or missing.
 The work of rescue was quickly be- gun. An ambulance station was in- stalled in the arsenal and Admiral Marin Darbel, maritime prefect, went out to the wreck and superintended the work of extricating those impris- oned under the shattered steel. The first body recovered was that of an of f ficer. which was hauled from under an awning with a boat hook
 This evening 40 bodies had been taken out and 94 injured have been transferred to hospitals.
 Electric shears, to cut through the plates of the Liberte. and a powerful floating crane to lift the masses of steel, were used in conjunction with q crew of divers who are at work ex- ploring the interior of the hull This afternoon the Liberte appeared as if her bow had doubled over on inc stern. Men buried in that part of the wreck : age above the water could be heard grooming land screaming for help. which often the rescuers were unable to give.
 The lower deck was horrible sight. One man had his foot held under n mass of steel weighing tons After three hours vain efforts to lift the mass a surgeon amputated the foot. Through a hole in the armor portions of bodies contorted and piled together, could be perceived, all of them charred by the flames.
 One of the survivors. warrant Of. ficer who came out of the hurricane of fire with only a slight cut on his forehead telling of the disaster, to- night said:
 s"The fire broke out in the general store among cans of oil, turpentine, paint and other inhammables. In spite of every effort the flames reached the coal bunkers and after that 1t was difficult to prevent them gaining the powder magazine. It was about 5.30 o'clock and dawn was breaking before the danger seemed to he realized. As sistance was then being sent to us
 aC0yTIsUEP ON FACE s,