Evening star., 1939-04-19
Sabotage Seen
In Burning Of
Liner Paris
Vessel SettIesin
lie Hovre Port:
Planes Saved
Sy the Associated Press.

Sy the Associated Press.
LIE HAVRE. France. April 49,
The liner Paris, once the flagship
Of the French merchant fleet, heeled
over and settled in 36 feet of water
today, burned through by fire which
officials suspected was set by foreign
saboteurs.
Two persons were killed and two
others seriously injured in the
night-long fight against the flames,
which, firemen said, spread from
two widely separated parts of the
ship. One point of origin was be-
) hind locked doors.
Investigators said preliminary in
vestigations strengthened the belief
that the 34,OO0-ton liner was de-
liberately set aflre. An Italian dock
worker was held for questioning by
lie Havre police.
Planes From u. S. Saved.
A shipment of 10 warplanes made
In the United States for the French
Army was taken off the vessel only
an hour before it listed and settled
In the center of the port. The
planes had not been unloaded from
the Paris, which arrived from New
York Saturday, before the fires
started.
French officials said after a quick
check that only one case in the
S500000 shipment of art treasures
consigned to the World Fair in
New York had been damaged. Two
million dollars worth of jewels were
. saved.
Mayor Leon Meyer of LIE Havre
told the Associated Press that in
his opinion "incendiarists" were re-
Asponsible
Fire fighters said the main blaze
originated in the ships bakery. The
heavy door of the bakery was locked
and f1remen had to hack it open.
Meanwhile the fire gained uncon-
trollable headway.
The other blaze started in the
barber shop, two decks above the
bakery.
Warned of Sabotage.
Two days ago lie Surete National.
the secret service, warned both the
French Line, owners of the Paris,
and the ministry Of merchant ma
rine that an effort at sabotage would
be made at LIE Havre.
The Paris was destroyed despite
precautions taken in response to
that warning.
With her superstructure eaten
away by the fires that started at
10 o'clock last night, the Paris began
to list heavily at dawn and a little
later was straining at her ropes
at a 30-degree angle.
Suddenly, with great groan.
the liner wrenched loose from her
moorings, turned on her side and
sank slowly in the center of the port.
The starboard side bellied out of
the water, with smoke still pouring
from the hulk.
A prompt investigation by French
Line experts indicated the liner had
not touched bottom but was settling
rapidly.
May Have to Break Up Hulk.
, They expressed fear the hulk would
have to be broken up to clear the
port and permit the liner Normandie,
French Line flagship, to be taken
from drydock where she was under
going propeller change.
Firemen said they had succeeded
In putting out the last of the flames
at 11:30 am. $3.50 am, E. S. TD,
more than 13 hours after they had
started.
The Paris was floating just off the
bottom. lying on her side squarely
In front of the new LIE Havre docks
with her starboard propeller and
casing sticking, out of the water.
Off1cials said that even if she touched
bottom she would not be completely
under water
Tons of water poured into the liner
from flreboats and from the dock
were the cause of her heeling over
and settling.
The Paris, with capacity of 3,24O
passengers, and unofficially valued
at $15,O000O0, was to have sailed
today.
The hull of the liner was insured
for 100000 francs ($2,540,OOO),
(See LINER, Page A-5)