EXPLOSION DISASTER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9900, 20 February 1918, Page 10

EXPLOSION DISASTER

GBKQIAN LOSS COML’AR.ABUv TO MILITAdIY DEFEAT. On November 22ml it w«« reported that the largo chemical factory of Gxieshiem —Election near i'raakfort, had been destroyed as the result o£ an explosion. Extreme Care was taken to prevent fuller accounts from leaking out from Germany. but it is now certain that the explosion caused the complete destruction of one of the greatest munitions factories in the world ,by which Germany Ims suffered a disaster comparable to a vorv serious military defeat. . The Griesshoim factory wms situated in the neighbourhood of .Frankfort, with an extensive frontage on the lliver Maui. Xfc covered 5* acres, and its 2S large cliilunovs .one of them over 2bill t high, it the appeara3i.ee of an industrial town. Tto commanding position in the chemical world rested not only on its huro output, but on the extensive variety pf its manufactures. These comprised, among other things, aniline dyes of every description, nitric, sulphuric and other afcids. phosphorus and alkali, with liquid Chlorine, hydrogen and oxygen as important bv-products. What it. meant to Germany ns a source of munitions of war can thus bo readily understood. Moreover, as one of the uncommon instances amour German chemical works possessing installations for electro-chemi-cal production, it was of prime importance as a source of synthetic nitrates; and its splendidly organised research laboratory enabled it to play a leading part in the production of poison gas and file other mors refined forms of "frightfulnoss" which Germany has introduced in. the course of the war. . Griesheim bus been producing saltpetre for the , manufacture of black powd-rs at the rate of 1000 tons a day and it is reputed to be the only factory turnir-- out this article. if also supplied large quantities of electrolytic hydrogen for the inflation of Zeppelins. A Zeppelin shed, usually containing two or three airships, was erected roar tbo works. It was a!s. the greatest centre tor (he umnu.fact.uro of asphyxiating gas and lachrymatory *n.l «oi«an>us shells.