RUINS OF OPPAU

Evening Star, Issue 17850, 22 December 1921, Page 3

RUINS OF OPPAU

DREAD SECBET THEY HOLD. A dread secret is hold by the- ruins of Oppau, tlie scene of the great explosion (savs the Berlin correspondent of Ihe ‘ Daily Chronicle ’). Some of the experts have come to an extraordinary conclusion. It is believed that the substance which exploded did so because wrong quantities of certain constituents wore used. The particular suUtance when properly compounded is non-explosive. Indeed, a large quantity of il was found intact quite near tho centre of the explosion. To was thought, before this find was made, that lid? additional quantity caused the second explosion, which took place immediately after tho first. As this did not explode, what caused the explosion? Experts think that the wrong compounding mentioned — they do not yet know in what particulars it was wrong—brought into existence an explosive of an astounding nature. This was when it burst, creating another substance, which, in its turn exploded. Chemists are now busy endeavoring to track down tho mistake, and so discover what they think will prove to be an explosive far more powerful than any yet known. As yet Oppau’s i>iins hold the terrible secret.

One of Mr 11. G. Wells's scientific romances deals with an explosive such as is hinted at in the Berlin correspondent’s message. In the story an explosive is invented which, on being detonated for the first time, sets free a vast accumulation of atomic energy. Tho work of devastation continues for an almost- unlimited period, in this way a whole city can he wiped, out by a single bomb. Actual science is at present inclined to smile at the idea. An explosives expert who was consulted by a ‘ Daily Chronicle’ representative said that, so far as bis knowledge went, the thing was hardly a possibility, “ One is reluctant to reject anything as quite impossible,” ho said ; “ but I am afraid that so far as our present knowledge goes the theory of a double ex-plosion from one substance, while ingenious, is untenable.”