The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-27
Thames Mine Protected.

1t would have been difficult to find a
better protected anchorage for a British
warship. SO far as the possibility OF an
attack by the Germans was concerned.
than tho estuary Of the Thames. Tn"
Bulwark rode In deep water of sheer
ness, on the south shore OF the Midway.
There is no official statement as to what
was taking place on board. and there is
only d report that ammunition was being
hoisted into the magazine. Some persons
AT Sheerness say they heard the Bull
wark's band playing q lively air just be-
fore the explosion was heard. II Is
possible that not all OF the battleship :
company OF SIS were aboard, but
II is only a possibility az best. since
there is no shore leave granted to off,
GERS and men at such times as these
From Sheerness. Chatham and other
towns near the anchorage OF the Bulwark,
the report is that the explosion was
so violent that houses were shaken and
rocked at least seven miles from the
harbor. Some saw a vast column OF hame
and smoke leap high in the air. followed
on the instant by frightful roar. From
what Is known, it seems that the bat
tiesh!p disappeared in three minutes.
Heavy smoke hung low over the river.
and watchers on shore caught ClimDses "
boats Fastening TO the rescue OF tho
scores that had been flung into the water.
That these efforts were practically un-
avalling is shown by the official statement
Of only twelve men saved.
The news reached London quickly md
absolutely shocked the people in the
streets. At first II was hoped thai the
rumor WAS merely one OF the viii ca
nards which are spread by the exc.table,
/ but II was very soon announced that tho
, Admiralty had confirmed the report. The
/ First Lord made the announcement II
the House in the following statement:
Il regret to say ! have some bad news
for the House. The battleshlp Bulwark,
which was lying at Sheerness this morn
ing. blew up at 1853 A. NJ. Vice and
Rear Admirals who were present have
reported their conviction that II was an
internal magazine explosion which rent the
ship asunder. There was apparently no
upheaval in the water. and the ship had
entirely disappeared when the smoke had
cleared away An inquiry will be held
! tomorrow. which may possibly throw
more light on this occurrence.
The loss of the ship does not sensibly
| affect the military position, but | rcgre,
TO say the loss OF life is very severe
Only twelve men are saved. and all the
officers and the rest OF the crew. amount
1 ing, | suppose, to between zoo and SOC
persons, have persisted | think IN House
will Ish me to express on It's behalf the
deep sympathy and sorrow with which
/ the House has heard the news and tn,
/ sympathy We feel with those who hav,
! lost their relatives and friends"
Hints at Work of spies.
A naval expert writing in the Morning
| Post says;
! According to the evidence at present
| available the loss OF the Bulwark wa,
due to an Internal explosion and not (,
"A mine or torpedo. An internal ex
plosion must mean tho explosion OF Ia,
ships magazine. that is, II the suppl,
Of cordite, which Is kept in a plac,
below the wa;erllne designed for tn,
purpose. The magazine may explode
| from two causes, spontaneous Combus
! ton, due to heating Of the cordtc, an,
by artificial detunation, 1t Is sometime
the case. Spontaneous combustion &C
CURED a few years ago \ ship disaste
! happened in both the British and Frcucl
navies. II Is therefore very unlikely
although 1t Is possible, that the maya
zine of the Bu.wark exploded sponta
ncously."
After technical description Of how
artificial defamation may be caused IN
adds
Members Of his Majes,y's Govern
ment may eudeaVOr to persuade Tn,
pubic that the danger of German spie
Is exaggerated, and also that the au
thoities are dealing with It adequately
Tho fact remains that his Majesty
I dockyards are infested with spies.
, the evidence Of that statement is re
CURED, the answer is that the evidenC
is in the possession Of the naval au
thorities,
The Lord Chancellor on Wednesda,
committed himself to the statement
that dangerous spies in this countr,
were not German. but British som
OF the Information which had beer
| given could only have been given b,
people who had access To- il, becaus
they were British. His belief was tina
we had very little of this kind OF thing
but that "" had some, and that 1t WA.
| formidable he could not doubt This Il
very remarkable statement, and I.or,
Haldane could hardly have made II un
less he possessed proofs of its accuracy
when the disaster occurred the Bul
wark was lying off Shcerness. The ad
| jaccnt area Is presumably proclaimed. hut
II does not follow that tho proclama ior
has been enforced, and that the neigh
borhood has been cleared OF Germans