WARNING TO PUBLIC

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 25 January 1944, Page 2

WARNING TO PUBLIC

DANGER OF “DUD” SHELLS

CAUTIOUS TREATMENT URGED

Wellington, This Day. Referring to the explosion of a shell in a house at Foxton beacli on Saturday in which five children miraculously escaped death, Lieut.-Colonel L. R. Withell. Chief Inspector of Munitions, New Zealand Army, stated in an interview that everybody should realise that long research by chemists and designing engineers had gone into making all types of ammunition as highly lethal as possible. “After Great War I a series of tragic accidents of a similar nature appeared from time to time in the news,” he continued. “Not only have children suffered in this way but collectors of war souvenirs have also had reason to regret their acquisitions. Most of these accidents occur because the shells and other devices which do not explode when they land are called ‘duds’ or ‘blinds.’ Such souvenirs are definitely dangerous and should be reported at once.

“All shells and other explosive missiles contain devices which render them safe before they are fired but dangerous the moment they have been fired Once a shell, grenade or mortar bomb has been fired various triggers, detents and other safety devices are withdrawn by the shock of discharge and the motion of the projectile. During flight and after landing those safety devices remain in the danger position. The projectile is therefore in a very dangerous condition. It is liable to detonate if it be moved Anybody finding a shell or other projectile should therefore treat it with great caution The correct procedure is to report the find to the nearest police or military authority. Expet ts will then deal with the shell. “There is the same danger inherent in the various component parts of a shell or othei projectile. Most have a fuse of some Sort which either screws into the nose or into the base Thg fuse is usually made of brass or aluminium and is about the size of a plum or an apple but pointed in shape if it be a nose fuse. These fuses contain explosives as well as various safety devices which render the projectile safe till it has been fired. Nearly every fuse contains not only a train of explosive but also a very delicate detonator. There is sufficient power in the explosive in a fuse ‘ blow off a hand or even cause death. Some fuses are so delicate they go off at the slightest check. Anybody who finds a fuse should assume it is live and should treat it with as much respect as if it were a shell. The same applies to hand grenades, mortar bombs and all missiles larger than a service rifle round. Even .303 amniunition can inflict a nasty burn if it happens to be the tracer type. The material used in tracer bullets usually contains phosphorus and should be treated with respect. “There is in fact only one thing to do; treat all these devices as if they were live. Failure to do so may result in a shell that is still live but a person who is suddenly dead.”