GERMAN GAS MYSTERY

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 60, 22 May 1928, Page 6

GERMAN GAS MYSTERY

-WHY WAS IT STORED?

FORBIDDEN BY TREATY

United Press Assp.—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. (Received 1,2,30, p.m.)

LONDON, May 19. The Hamburg explosion which was not loaul and not destructive was immediately followed by a great volume of death del ding Turtles; spreading over the city. The police and firemen, aided by nuiouia, heroically struggled'to' rescue iririe who collapsed and died. ■\V !, ile the fate' of the great portion of thq city was . in the,, balance, the situation, was. .saved by H mcrtfduL change of wind’ which ,veered in sum a manner as to blow the gas towards the isolated neighbourhood. Heavy rainfall helped to disperse the gas, hut.; the danger was not considered post' unit, this morning. . 'changed do the opposite direction, towards the congested parts it is impossible to estimate the havoc the gas cloud would have caused. Xt,is stated there was sufficient gas to wipe out can army. A DEADLY GAS. There is considerable discussion at present as to why a German firm was in possession of 'phosgene, which Is forbidden Germany .hy the Versailles treaty. Professor Haber the 'bost competent authority on poison gas, declares it is only manufactured in Germany in the smallest quantities for dy e purposes. It s one of the most dangerous, and half a gramme in one cubic foot of air is sufficient to kill. tie is unable to tbderstand whore it came from, rs it is supposed to be stored by a limited number of firms under the greatest precautions. The firm concerned alleged it was old war material "destined partly for destruction and partly for export to the United •'States 1 - , \ 'lt is now . believed that eleven, are dead,—Australian Press Assn.