NEWS OF THE WEEK.
WE have to record with profound regret a terrible disaster on board the French first-class battleship gins,' which occurred on Tuesday afternoon at Toulon. The 'Jena' was being overhauled in dry dock preparatory to putting to sea the next day, when an explosion took place in one of the magazines. This was followed by other explosions, and a large part of the ship took fire. Owing to the absence of water in the dock, nothing could be done at first to check the flames, and it was not till more than two hours after the first explosion that the fire was extinguished by flooding the dock. Some heroic attempts were made to open the dock gates, but this eventually had to be done by shell-fire from the neighbouring ship the 'Petrie.' A hundred. and fourteen persons were killed, including .Captain Adigard, commanding the ship, and Captain Vertier, Chief of Staff of the second division of the Mediterranean Squadron. Among the wounded was Admiral Manceron, whose flag was carried by the 'lens.' Captain Vertier, like many members of the crew, was unable to escape, and was burned to death. Projectiles and parts of the ship were thrown consider- able distances by the explosions, and the entire stern of the ship was ruined. The • feria' was launched in September, 1898, and had a displacement of twelve thousand tons. The deplor- able series of disasters in the French Navy is causing much disquietude. The cause of the first explosion in the • Iena ' is still unknown.
