“SECRET WEAPONS"

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 5, 7 January 1944, Page 5

“SECRET WEAPONS"

RIDICULED BY EXPERT Recd. 11.15 p.m. London, Jan. 6. Stories of an enormous German rocket-gun designed to shell London from France are ridiculed by the famous Swiss explosives expert, Dr. Alfred Stettbacher. He is equally contemptuous of other “secret weapons.” Rocket-guns and secret weapons are nothing but a nerve war to scare credulous laymen, said Dr. Stettbacker. Secret weapons are only effective if the public believes in their existence. Hitherto all these supersecret rockets, uranium bombs and new devastating explosives have produced an effect only on the civilian mind. No rocket-gun could possibly lire 120 miles.to London from France, nor use a 12-ton shell. Rocket shells used by the Germans against Alli*q bombers weigh 221 b., with a range of only about a mile and a-quarter. It was surprising, he said, how even trained scientists should “fall” for such fairy tales as uranium bombs, which are to destroy all living beings within an area of 200 miles. No human being has yet invented such a bomh, and nobdy will for a very considerable time. The most terrific explosive is called Tetranitro-me'han-benzol. of which all Army headquarters know.