England has just shown the world that an ironclad can
be drowned, and now France is showing it that an ironclad can be burnt. Admiral Roze reports on 31st October, from Toulon, that the Magenta,' a second-rate vessel, but one of the finest armour-plated ships that France possesses, took fire in the har- bour of Toulon, and in spite of all efforts burnt furiously for two hours. Admiral Roze therefore ordered the men into the boats, himself leaving last, about three hours and a half after the fire had been first observed. The powder magazine had, of course, been flooded, but very hastily, and at 3.30 the vessel was blown up, fragments of her falling in showers in the streets of Toulon. Almost every house was more or less injured. The vessel sank almost immediately after the explosion. The rapid progress of the fire in a ship which ought to have been provided with steam fire-engines is almost inexplicable, as also is the difficulty experienced in flood- ing the magazines. There is, of course, to be an official inquiry.
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