POISON GAS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1929, Page 5

POISON GAS

A GERMAN DII-UICULTY

GETTING RID OF STOCKS

United Press Association—By Electric 'Telegraph—Copyrignt).

(Received this day at 12.25. p.m.) LONDON, April 11. The “Times”' Berlin eorresp indent states: “However proud many Germans have been of poison gas inventions. the city fathers at Colon have learned to hate the very name of it. They found themselves in possession of a large quantity after the war in a munition factory near the- city, and have not yet found a way to lose it. They first tried Ini ruing it, hut the ilimes killed rural vegetation and farmers protested.

They next buried it a yard deep under a factory. 'The hitter was subsequently dismantled, and the fumes caused grave uneasiness. It was then buried deep in sandy soil, in the expectation that it would gradually sink into oblivion. Instead it polluted the water supply. Questions were asked in the Prussian

Diet, and it was decided to enclose the gas in containers and sink them to the sea bed. The railways pointed out that the transport fvas dangerous and fishermen feared that fish would he poisoned.

Burning was re-attempted, hut was abandoned, and it was decided to reinter it where there was no water. A g()ft. deep pit was dug and floored with twelve inches of impervious day. also a six inch bed of reinforced concrete. Next a coffin was constructed of reinforced concrete trebly insulated with tor and other impervious substances. The coffin was lowered and packed outside with two layers of day. Twenty thousand containers holding nearly two tons of gas were dug up and placed in the c.iffin with a quantity of earth infected by the broken containers. A reinforced concrete' lid was affixed to tlu* coffin which was ten feet underground. Tiie whole was covered with thick day. Unfortunately many containers were overlooked and the authorities are debating whether to reopen the coffin or prepare another grave.