GREAT GAS CLOUD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 22 May 1928, Page 5

GREAT GAS CLOUD.

CAUSED BY EXPLOSION. THOUSANDS DRIVEN FROM HOME Press Association-Electric Telegraph-Copyright (Received Tuesday, 5.45 a.m.) BERLIN, Monday. A tank of phosgene gas exploded in a street at Hamburg last night and a great gas cloud settled in the neighbouring streets, which were hurriedly evacuated. Thirty thousands persons were driven from their homes.

It is known that three are dead, and that one hundred in the hospital are all in danger of death.

The Reichswehr was mobilised to assist the firemen in attempting to disperse the cloud with ammonia. All the available gasmasks were commandeered, and further support was sent by special train from Berlin. —Australian and N.Z. Press Assn. —United Service. MERCIFUL CHANGE OF WIND. (Received Monday, 12.30 pun.) ■ 1 LONDON, Monday. While the fate of a great portion of Hamburg city was in the balance the situation was saved by a merciful change of the wind which veered in such a manner as to blow the gas towards an isolated neighbourhood. Heavy rainfall also helped to disperse it, but the danger was not considered past until this morning. Had the wind changed to the opposite direction towards the congested parts it would be impossible to estimate the havoc the gas cloud would have caused. It is stated that there was sufficient gas to wipe out an army. There is considerable discussion at present why a German firm was in possession of phosgene which is forbidden in Germany by the Versailles Treaty. Professor Haber, a most competent authority on poison gas, declares that it was only manufactured in Germany in the smallest quantities for dye purposes. It was one of the most dangerous gases. Half a gramme in one cubic foot of air was sufficient to kill. He is unable to understand where it came from, as it is stored by a limited number of firm under the greatest precautions. The firm concerned alleged that it was old war material, destined parti to be destroyed and partly for export to the United States. It is now believed that eleven are dead. —Australian and N.Z. Pfess Association.