The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1914-12-02

lleVed to Have Been Caused by Es
pIosIon Of the Magazine-Russian
Claim Victory Which Is Denied b.
BerIin-LittIe Fighting in Flanders
London, Nov. 28.-The battleshil
Dulwark of Great Britain was blown
up and sunk Thursday in the estuary o
the Midway river. Between 700 ant
500 men were lost, including Capt
Guy Belater, her commander, and al
her officers. Only IA of her crew were
saved.
1t is announced officially that the ex
plosion was interior and originated II
the ships magazine.
The disaster is the most appalling
with the exception of the loss Of the
| fered in war. The men aboard hel
had not a fighting chance for theil
lives. The boat sank in three min
utes
The band was playing aboard the
Bulwark Near her were anchored
several other ships.
Churchill Announces Disaster.
Suddenly a terrific explosion oc
Cured in the bowels Of the ship. A
great cloud Of smoke arose, envelop-
ing the Bulwark and shutting her from
sight. A great white flash Of fire
streaked through the black veil; the
smoke cloud thickened and rolled out
ward and upward.
Announcement Of the loss Of the Bull
wark in Sheerness harbor was made
in the house of commons by Winston
Churchill, first lord of the admiralty.
Only Fourteen Are Saved.
Mr.. Churchill's official statement fol-
lows:
THE battleship Bulwark was lying
in the harbor at Sheerness when she
was blown up. The disaster occurred
at 1853 o'clock in the morning. The
ship was torn absolutely asunder and
had entirely disappeared when the
smoke cleared away. 1t Is the opinion
of the admirals at Sheerness that the
ship was destroyed by an explosion of
the magazine. Only IA members Of
the crew were saved. The destruction
of the Bulwark will not sensibly af-
feet our military or naval position"
Chief Loss ls In Men.
The tBulwark was of $1,000 tons dis
placement. 1t was laid down in 1889
and completed in 1902. 1t was All feet
long, rs feet wide, and drew 20 feet
of water. Its armament consisted Of
four 12-inch guns, II 6-inch guns, 16
12-pounders, six 3-pounders and four
submerged torpedo tubes. 1t had a
complement of $50 men. 1t cost Sc, ,000,-
900.
Although too old to be any longer
in the first fighting line, the Bulwark
still was useful unit The loss of the
ship, however, was nothing compared
with the heavy loss in trained officers
and men. The Bulwark in it's early ca
reer was quite a favored ship. For
a long time 1t was the flagship Of Ad-
miral Charles Beresford in the Medi-
terranean.
More British Ships Sunk.
London, Nov. 29.-German submar-
ines have sunk two more British
steamships and a German mine has
sent to the bottom British naval col
lier, according to admission of the
British admiralty.
Coming on the heels OF the appall-
ing disaster which befell the British
battleship Bulwark. when it was blown
up with the loss Of more than 750 off,
GERS and men, these new evidences of
hostile naval menace at the very gates
Of London has served to spread con-
sternation over England.
Churchill Seeks to AlIay Fear.
A supreme effort to allay the grow
ing terror OF the British people was
made in an extraordinary speech in
the house Of commons by Winston
Churchill, first lord of the admiralty.
He reviewed the operations of the Brit
ish fleet in the war and contrasted the
present and prospective strength of
the British feet with that of the Ger
man feet, declaring new warships
were being finished 80 rapidly In Eng
land now that Great Britain could lose
one dreadnaught every month for a
year and still retain her present su-
periority over the Germans.
"At- the beginning OF the war we
had 81 dreadnaughts and Germany had
b." Mr.. Churchill said. I'VE have lost
S@4 ~ OoA OA4CA ~ AnO4 G6I-
many has lost two. Great Britain had
IS modern light cruisers; Germany had
Is. We have lost two; Germany has
lost or interned six; we have added
SIX"
To Reveal All Losses.
Referring to criticisms Of the ad-
miralty's failure to utilize its sub
marines as effectfve1v as fha Qarrnons
had done, Churchill said the fact that
British submarines had been unable to
produce results on a large scale was
iue to the seldom offered opportunity
10 attack
The time has not yet arrived when
We can usefulfy discuss the particulars
II certain losses to which reference
las been made. As soon as possible
III facts connected with past opera
ions and the administration OF the
layy VIII be made public"