GERMAN INFERNAL MACHINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1918, Page 3

GERMAN INFERNAL MACHINES.

» •*** 4MAZING DISCOVERIES IN NORWAY ! Some time ago the Norwegian Govern- ' nent discovered that German agents bad '■ jeen bringing into Norway explosive machines of various types, probably intend;d to be placed on Norwegian vessels to sink them without warning out at sea. - Die following extracts from an article published at the time in the Norwegian ; press are of interest, illustrative of the punning and malignity of the men who designed such machines: "One hundred and seven explosive bombs, 0 bombs in the shape of bits of coal, 133 'strikers,' 20!) detonators, 470 tubes of acid, 32 pieces of 'chewing tobacco,' 31 cigarettes, :ffi bits of chalk and some 'fountain pens' filled with acid for incendiary purposes have been discovered at Grunnerlokken, and are now in military custody at the arsenal of Hoveden. It is dreadful to think that all these diabolical things have been lying for itome time in one of the most thickly populated parts of the town. If, for example, lire had broken dut, what frightful scenes would have ensued. Not to speal: of the value which would have been destroyed, there would have been loss of life and damage to limbs in thousands. It is horrible to think what would have happened if these explosive machines had gradually got to the place they were intended to reach. How many of the Norwegian ships which have disappeared without leaving a trace were favored with infernal machines from similar stores no man knows. It is, in any event, quite plain that Germany must employ large industrial establishments for the purpose of making these cunning assassins' tools, No one who sees the ingenious mechanism of all these carefullymade things can be in doubt on this point. They are—like the anthrax bacilli of von Rosen —things that arc made in wholesale quantities. "The bombs, which look like largish pieces of coal, contained a holder filled with an explosive, also large quantities of dynamite caps, and the contents were supposed to explode when they got hot. If such a bomb were placed in the bunkers of a steamer, the stoker would do the rest. There were also 05 large rectangular bombs in iron cases, furnished with bags and strings, so that they could be hung over the shoulder and carried secretly under a loose overcoat. These bags were filled with the same explosive They are set in action by clockwork set for a certain time. There were also 12 small rectangular bombs and 104 incendiary bombs, in round cases.