New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
Proceeds Under Own
Steam, with Rotter-
dam as Convoy.
NO HARM TO ANY
OF HER PASSENGERS
paris Newspapers Suggest Spies
Started Blaze in Hold
Compartment.

Paris. March THE fire which
+trsstened the French steamship La
To,ro;ns has been brought under con-
,roI and all her passengers arc safe on
hos-d according to a formal announce
~. ;ssued at noon to-day by the
Comnsgnic Generate Transatlantique,
owner Of the liner.
Ia Touraine is proceeding under her
, s+eam 10 Havre, her destination,
.rd {, expected 70 arrive there to-
rorrow night Only the Rotterdam, OF
-. feet which responded TO Captain
c.,s.;n's wireless csh for aid, is stand
,,r nv as 8 measure Of precaution TO
i've assistance, should any be required
Commanders Of other vessels which
s,sed.d 10 the rescue have been IN
t..u,.5 that their services will not be
required. 49,.
IN. statement given out by the
steamship company said;
9TH. fire which broke out aboard La
Touraine was less serious than was al
first thought. The fire IS under con-
troll and all passengers are safe.
Ia Touraine has resumed her voy-
soe 90 Havre under her own steam
bu, nevertheless. for further security
sb. Is being escorted by the Rotter-
dam. and probably will arrive at Hsvre
Monday evening
According 10 officials OF the com
Dsnv. they have not been informed
what caused the fire. They assert,
however. that the flames were restrict
Cd TO one Of the compartments IN the
hold. L, was feared for time that II
might be necessary TO transfer the pas
sengers to another ship, but this was
abandoned when it was seen the blaze
was being mastered.
Grave fears for the safety Of La
Tourairc were felt in this city, until
the positive announcement was made
that She was in no danger. Several
ucwspapers suggested that the fire
might have been set by spies who had
concealed themselves on board.
Havrc. March T. The agent here Of
the French Line his afternoon re-
cciyed the following wireless dispatch
from Captain Cassin, of La Touraine:
Sunday. March 7, 3:45 p. Ma
Touraine. having a fire IN one of its
holds. asked for help. bu. is continuing
her Journey TO lIayre. escorted by the
steamer Rotterdam. hope to get con-
troll Of the fire. 1.crc is no immt date
danger. The weather is good, but
foggy.
Il hope to dock Monday evening if
everything goes we'll
fBy Gable 10 The Tribune
Queenstown. March 6.-News of La
Touraine's plight came in wireless
G Q y call, sent out soon after 8
o'clock yesterday morning. Immediate
ly the steamers Arabic, Cornishman.
Swanmore and Rotterdam went to her
assistance. Wireless communication
was established with La Toursine, and
it was learned that the fire was very
fierce, and that she was in the mid
Atlantic.
her, and found the crew engaged in a
desperate struggle with the fire. The
Rotterdam stood by, ready to take off
La Touraine's passengers and crew if
the situation demand such a course,
and undertook to act as an escort until
all danger was passed. Then messages
were sent to the other three vessels.
telling them that their aid would not
be needed.
Those on board La Touraine, how
ever, we're very much interested to see
warship coming up at full speed. She
was a British cruiser on patrol which
had received the first wireless and
crowded on full steam to render sue
cor. The cruisers services, however,
were not required, the fire having been
partly got under contral. and away she
went amid the cheers of La Touraine's
passengers.