VOLCANO BOMBED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 305, 30 December 1935, Page 6

VOLCANO BOMBED

| EFFORT TO CHECK LAVA EXPERIMENT IN HONOLULU Received Dec. 29. 6.50 p.m. HONOLULU, Dee. 27. Military aerop.aues to-day bombed rhe erupting volcano of Mauna Loa in an effort to divert the gigantic lava flow which is threatening the water supply of Hilo and town itself. Some TOOOlbs. of explosives were dropped in ten bombs, scoring virtually direct hits. Each blast sent a column of Black smoke high into the ! air and was visible 20 miles distant. it. is the first time such methods have been improved in an effort to control a lava flow. The success of the operations will not bo known for 24 hours. LAVA PRESSES ON CUTTING SWATH THROUGH FOREST ’ Received Dec. 29. 7.15 p.m. HONOLULU, Dec. 28. Yesterdav’s bombing operations apI pa rent ly had no effect on the lava flow • from Mauna Loa. The volcano is now mo r e violent. A disturbance occurred to-day and a river of molten lava is pressing on at the rate of 150 to 200 I feet hourly and is now within three ; miles of the Hilo water supply and ’ within 18 miles of the town itself. The 1 lava flow is cutting a wide, swath : through the timber line at a heat of • two thousand degrees Fahrenheit, deist roving trees and shrubbery almost in- ; slantiy.