PRODUCTION AT FULL SPEED— Powerful New Rocket For Russia?

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 September 1949, Page 5

PRODUCTION AT FULL SPEED— Powerful New Rocket For Russia?

BERLIN, September 26 (Rec 11.10 a.m.).—German scientists are producing for Russia a trans-ocean rocket they designed for Hitler just before the war ended, says the Associated Press correspondent, quoting Soviet zone informants. . The informants, who have access to the offices of the Sovietbacked East German police, said a mammoth underground munitions plant at Peenemunde, on the Baltic coast, is turning out rockets at full speed. . tt ’ . .. „ Allied intelligence officers said they know of certain activity at Peenemunde, but declined to elaborate.

The new rocket, said the German informants, was dubbed “Fire Lilly” by the Nazis, who never had a chance to use it. The name comes from the fact that the rocket “blossoms” into eight to 10 separate aerial bombs when it arrives over the target, scattering destruction over an area of three square miles. The report says its range and accuracy are sufficient to hit a target 5000 miles away. ’ Peenemunde is now guarded by a barricade of high-voltage wires and mine fields and patrolled by 3500 members of the Soviet security police. Flotillas of speed-boats are used to. guard the seaward approaches and all supplies for the plant and workers are delivered by sea for security reasons.