WAR TERROR RETURNS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 360, 22 May 1928, Page 1

WAR TERROR RETURNS

PHOSGENE TANK EXPLODES IN CITY THOUSANDS DRIVEN FROM HOMES pL’nited P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian P.A. — United Service) Reed. 9.5 a.m HAMBURG, Monday. A TANK of phosgene gas exploded in a street last night, and a great gas-cloud settled over neighbouring streets, which were hurriedly evacuated. Thirty thousand were driven from their homes. It i 3 known that seven persons are dead, and 100 are in hospital, all in danger of death. The Reichswehr was mobilised to assist the firemen, who were attempting to disperse the cloud with ammonia. All available gas-masks were .commandeered, further support was sent by a special train from Berlin.

The explosion, which was not loud. »nd not destructive, was immediately followed by a great volume ot deathdealing fumes spreading over the city. Police and firemen, aided by ammonia, periodically struggled to the rescue. Nine collapsed and died. While the fate of a great portion of the city was in the balance, the situation was saved by a merciful change of wind, which veered in such a manner as to blow the gas toward an isolated eeighbourhood. A heavy rainfall also helped to disperse it, but the danger was not considered past until this morning. Had the wind changed to the opposite direction, toward the congested parts, it is impossible to estimate the havoc the gas-cloud would have caused. It is stated that there was sufficient gas to wipe out an army. FORBIDDEN GAS There is considerable discussion at. present as to wtiy a German firm was in possession of the phosgene, which is forbidden in Germany by the Versailles Treaty. Professor Haber, the most competent authority on poison gas, declared that it could only be manufactured in Germany in the smallest quantities for dye purposes.

It was one of the most dangerous gases. Half a gramme in one cubic foot of air was sufficient to kill. He is unable to understand where it came from, as it is stored by a limited number of firms under the greatest precautions. The firm concerned alleged that it was old war material, destined partly for. destruction, and partly for export to the United States. It is now believed that 11 are dead. The tank belonged to a chemical firm which was responsible in the wartime for poison gas, and which at present is in liquidation. The war-tiipe name of the gas was “Yellow Cross.’' Tt is invisible. Being heavier than air it lingered close to the ground. It is difficult to disperse. When weak, it is hardly noticeable. When it is Inhaled though there are no immediate consequences, the person who | has breathed it is liable suddenly to ! become worse, and die some days afterwards. Phosgene was one of the “refinements” introduced into warfare by the Germans after the failure of chlorine to break the Allied line. It was invisible, and only faintly odorous, and its deadly effect was not immediate, the victim usually collapsing some time after from heart failure.