12th March 1898

A small fire on Sunday at Broomes has destroyed one of Pharaoh Class digs being constructed in the yard. In a dramatic escape the other two completed ships were launched prematurely and joined the three completed vessels over Breydon Water.

Investigators have ruled out sabotage as the cause of the fire and think that it was started by a careless workman with a cigarette discarded while on the way home.

In a separate announcement Broomes confirmed that four new Torpedo Aeronef Gunboats had been laid down yesterday morning and that they would be completed by Thursday evening. This has lead to a delay in the construction of the Queen class vessels.

The trial of Arnold Erricson III commenced on monday morning at the Tollhouse.

The prosecution alleged that Erricson has bribed workers at the Broome Shipyards to obtain copies of the plans for both the Pharaoh Class dig and also the Queen Class. These were to be passed on to another unknown power.

The Turkish fleet employ War Balloons to defend strategic points like the Dardanelles and there is talk that the Khedive may buy Balloons to defend the Suez Canal and also Alexandria.

It is unlikely that these will be built by Turkey and it is likely that Broomes will bid for this contract as well.

The Five Pharaoh Class digs that have been completed they are named:

Seti, Ptolemy, Intef, Ramesses and Amenhotep.