AMAZING PUBLICATION

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20821, 3 June 1939, Page 16 (Supplement)

AMAZING PUBLICATION

German Bomb Book : Warfare Chemistry

On Sale in Britain

(Times Air “Mail Service) LONDON, May 7 An amazing book, printed in Germany and published in this country last week, gives instructions on how to make poison gas, incendiary bombs and other horrors of modern chemical warfare for the price of a few shillings, and with the simple equipment found in any school laboratory or home workshop. The title of the book, which is priced 7s 6d, is “School Experiments in Warfare Chemistry.” The author is Dr. W. Kintoff, a German, well known for his researches into chemical warfare. Any schoolboy, Irish malcontent, or saboteur can learn from the 144 pages of this slim, paper-covered work how to make thermite, the ingredient of the most terrible of all incendiary bombs, phosgene, chlorine, and teargas, such as was used last week to panic the audiences of two Liverpool cinemas. Alteration In Title The book is published in England by the Massie Publishing Company, Limited, of Chancery Lane, London. W.C/2. When a Sunday Referee reporter called at this address, Mr P. J. Paine, the publisher, said two alterations had | been made in the book since review | copies were issued to the press a few ! days ago. The word “school” has been dropped from the title, and the volume has been re-priced at 7s 6d for a cloth-bound edition, and 6s 6d for paper covered copies. Mr Paine explained: “We felt the use of the word ‘school’ in .the title might limit the book's sale. People other than teachers may be interested in it. The book was originally written by Dr. Kintoff in 1935. It has been 1 brought right up to date.”

Mr Paine refused to disclose what payment was being made to the author. He continued: “I have to be careful about what I say to you, in case we upset the German people concerned, so please exercise great discretion. Tile reason the book is printed in Germany is that it was a German book to start with. “Not Dangerous”, “This is not the only book on warfare chemistry that has been published, and I do not consider it dangerous. It does not, for example, give directions for making mustard gas.” Mr Paine added that he was not a German, and had never been to Germany. One section of the books starts with the obvious assertion, "Breathing is the essential condition of life,” and then gives instruction for experiments which will bring about its rapid cessation. Of phosgene it says: “The affected person often fails to notice its effect . . . after a few hours, if not treated bv a doctor, it may possibly prove fatal.” Under the heading, “Eye Irritants,” are directions for making tear gas. Not more than two or three elementary ingredients are required, and the apparatus consists merely of ordinary test tubes, a laboratory gas-burner, and a flask. The Gam*3 simplicity marks the manufacture of thermite bombs. Two powders, which almost any chemist will supply for a few coppers, will, when mixed according to the directions given, constitute a bomb which will cause untold Are damage. Brief details are given at the end of each chapter for antidotes for gas poisoning and the extinguishing of bombs. “The book has no connection with A.R.P.,” the publishers state.