GREAT BELGIUM EXPLOSION

Taihape Daily Times, 4 July 1919, Page 2

GREAT BELGIUM EXPLOSION

’ GERMAN MUNITION ‘DUMP. I A huge pile of ammunition stored on the GI‘CC‘IIOIId3.CI racecourse, near Bruswls, e.\:plCdeCl IL‘L".‘lltl_\'. In the c'u—«p<;:: lmd bcc.-11 collected all t'll‘\ shells nbundoiied. by the Germans in tin: Province of 81-abant. It is believed that the explosion is due to spontaneous ignition of the explosives, due to the action of the 31111. The 36 xzmn who were guanijpg the depot succeecled in escaping. Six hnn(ll'ed German prisoners broke the barbed wire surrounding the camp and tool: cover in the woods. Several of. fl:-oni are reported to have been killed. Mm who were exercising horses on the rneee.oul'se made for the nearest sheltor. It is not known what. became of the horses, All the windows and g“.'(‘.‘CIIhOIISOS at Hoeylart were broken io pieces. Among the shells wel;e several 42mm. and asph_vxia.t‘ing gas shells. A cloud of gsils drifted in the direction of Waferloo. The explosions \~_—m-9 heard 3;, far a'~' Brussels. Many vrintlows were broken in the ‘Outskirts.