East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-11-27

LONDON, Nov. 27.-A secret in.
vestigation Of the explosion which re-
suited in the loss OF the British bat
tleship Bulwark in the Medway, with
a loss OF nearly 500 OF the officers and
crew. was begun here today.
Naval experts were unable TO ac-
count for the internal blast which
sent the vessel TO the bottom on any
other theory but that Of deteriorate
ammunition. This theory. however,
they were inclined to regard as doubt
ful because OF the frequent tests
made TO determine the quality OF the
explosives used.
Rumors continued TO be circulated
today that a spy or n German subma-
rlne caused the disaster. That a sub
marine had succeeded In penetrating
the mine fields 10 reach the scene OF
the explosion was thought unlikely by
experts and the rumor that two such
craft had been found In the basin near
the scene could not be traced to a
responsible source. Some. however.
thought that the suggestion that a
spy was involved In the disaster was
worthy OF more consideration.
Several newspapers this morning
were severe In their criticisms OF the
admiralty's lack OF vigilance in per-
mittIng strangers about government
docks.
In the house OF commons there was
a disposition TO scoff at the govern
ment version OF magazine explosion
as the cause OF the loss OF the vessel
The spontaneous combustion theory
was strongly questioned.
The disaster was almost the sole
topic OF conversation today in the
Hobbies Of parliament and on the
streets.
The statement was made that the
hull OF the vessel was split in three
parts and that the tunnels and masts
had been completely destroyed.
SHEERNESs. Eng, via London,
Nov. 2T.-The British battleship Bull |
ward was destroyed by n terrible ex.
plosion as she lay off here yesterday.
There were only IL survivors from
the crew OF 700 or 500 men who were
aboard.
The explosion is believed TO have
occurred In her forward magazine.
Whether Il was caused by an acciden,
or design Is n question to be determin-
cd by the commission which has been
appointed 10 investigate.
In the opinion Of naval men II was
an internal explosion that put an end
to the battleship which for 12 years
had done service at home and abroad
and lately had been doing her part in
guarding England's shores. There was
no great upheaval OF water such as
would have occurred II she had been
torpedoed or struck by a mine.
Instead. the ship was enveloped In
smoke and flame and when this had
cleared nothing could be seen but
wreckage floating in the water.
Houses in towns seven and eight
miles away were shaken by the ex'
plosion and even before men on ships
anchored near by could reach their
own decks, the Bulwark had disap-
The neighborhood was
strewn with an enormous amount of
wreckage. while pieces OF the ship
were thrown six or seven miles onto
the Essex shore.
Considering the size of her navy,
Great Britain has been singularly free
from disaster OF this character. New
ertheless when the French warship
Jena was destroyed by an internal
explosion in 1907 all cordlte ammuni-
ton was taken from all the British
ships and carefully examined Re-
frigerators were installed in the ships
to keep the powder cool.
VERA CRUZ, Nov 27-Carranza
formally established his government
lere today The last Carranzista
roops entered Vera Cruz this morn 4
Ing and Carranza's force here now to- 4
tails $500. ,