SIXTY FEET OF FLAME.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 107, 12 November 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

SIXTY FEET OF FLAME.

KAISER'S DIABOLICAL. "FOUNTAIN OF FIRE." BRITISH TROPHY. ("By the "l)aily Express" Special Correspondent.) Generall Headquarters, Britsh Army in the Field, August 30. An innocent-looking steel cylinder, not unlike a milk can in shape and appearance, is one of the prized trophies of the British Army in the field. It was captured at Hooge on August 9, partially filled with a black, evilsmelling liquid. A six-foot length of rubber hose was fitted to one side, with u long steel nozzle at the end, and there were padded metal arms to fit the cylinder on a man's back. Stamped at the top was the German Imperil Crown and the words Fiedeler Flammenwerfer Apparate. G.M.B.H. Berlin. This is the infernal machine used by the Kaiser's tro#ps to spray their enemies with burning oil when they are indisposed to fight them as men. SIMPLE APPARATUS. I saw the "Flamnienwefer" in n certain field laboratory to-day. It is the first one captured by British troops, although the French secured a similar cylinder during a counter-attack in the Argonne some weeks ago. The German method of projecting flames at tremendous pressure has been known, however, s nee the early days of the war, and an order relating to the use of the "Flammenwefer" fell into onr hands, wherein the apparatus was fully described. It is quite simple in design. The cylinder (which is acetylene welded) is divided into nn upper and lower chamber, the lower containing the oil gas tnr, which is the real weapon, and the upper containing nitrogen, which furnishes the pressure. The nitrogen is taken into the field in separate four-foot cylinders, and one of these larger cylinders contains sufficient to "load" four or five "Flammenwerfer." A valve (which can be manipulated by the man carrying the "Flammenwerfer" on his back) regulates the flow of nitrogen and the inflammable fliru into the rubber pipe. Two other ra Uphold it in check before it reach ;s tne l'ghting device at the nozzle. LIGHTING DEVICE. This lighting device is very ingenious. It consists of a small firing tube fitted to the end of the nozzle, containing a spring, a detonator, some guncotton, and a wick soaked in paraffin. When the gas presses against the spring with sufficient force the cap is fired, the wick ignited, and a jet of flame projected from the nozzle for at least 20 yards,

The appearance of tire weapon in action has been described by eye-wit-nesses.s. The flame gushes forth amid volumes of black smoke accompanied by intense heat. One soldier called t "a fountain of fire." The flame can be projected continuously for more than two minutes, but can be p.rrested at any time by the operator. A fresh "firing tube" must be fitted to the ytm of the steel nozzle for each re-ignition. The enemy used these flame projectors along their front trench. When T examined this sinister trophy a printed label was attached stating the name of the imttalion by which it had been taken. "It goes back to them, said the officer who explained tno working of the machine. They are very keen about it."