The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-10-10

OH JOuu
French. the British
commander, mentioned
IN an official report
that one of his avia-
tors dropped a petrol bomb on a Ger.
man ammunition train. killing fifteen
men and destroying the whole train.
IL has been stated that many Belgian
and French towns have been set on
Ere and destroyed by petrol bombs.
Even London has been in fear OF de-
struction from this cause.
The use OF poisonous gases IA Eu-
doubtedly planned by military eagi-
neers. We have positive eyide1ze that
a gun designed 20 discharge such
gases among the enemy has been pat
ented by the KgupD firm. OF Essen.
and we may hsGf at any moment
that "a u ia seton.
~ Is . question whether such a
ve2Soa Goes not come under the
eNN.Za OF The Hague Convention
.=,lch prohibits the use OF poisons.
explosive bullets and other excessive
~ cruel weapons. The events of the
present war seem to indicate. how
ever. that not much attention will be
paid TO the humanitarian provisions
OF The Hague Convention. IL may be
argued that the use OF pOisons was
forbidden for the protection OF civil
ians and neutrals. and that the pro-
vision does not apply TO a gun throw
ing poisonous gases at the enemy'1
soldiers.
The poison gun has been patente 4
in the United States by Karl Wieser'
a German subject residing at Bre.
deney, Germany. lie states In his ap
plication that he has assigned his
rights TO the Krupp company.
The shell containing the poisonous
gases Is a great globe. which remains
outside the muzzie OF the gun.
shaft attached 10 the globe enters tbs
gun and separates from the globe
when II Is fired. The globe Is said e
be capable OF suffocating thousand
men by the gases which 10 emits
when II explodes. The technical de-
scription OF the invention says:
The object Is. IN the present in
vention. reached by giving the par
or the shaft wherein the weight
slides n smaller dimension than that o.
the bore % the gun, and by supplyin.
the shaft with an abutment or stoI
az the rear Of this small diameter
which stop will conform with the al
Hmeter OF the bore OF the gun. An
the smaller part OF the shaft passe
through n hole 81 the same diameter
IN the weight. 80 that. with the a.
slstance Of centring faces on th'
weight and on the gun. the formel
will be IN such a position that M
axis will coincide with that Of tn
bore OF the gun"
The Invention IS a three piece de
vice-the shaft. which goes into tht
bore ~ the gun. the shell. and {
weight which IL attached both 10 M
ehaft and the gun and Joins then
together When the shaft r. fired. M
weight retards ne progress. an
through that means detaches itseI
and the shaft from the shell, whicl
continues IN ne flight
One great obiect ~ the military IN
iventOrs r. the dinect use o. the pOwo
Of the sun for purposes Of deatruc
fion. They are planning 20 furnis
alrships with lenses and mirror. b
means % which the suns rays ma
be concentrated on the opponent.
forts. magazines and encampments.
Imagine the effect o. such titani
force burning. whitening. annihiiatin
everything over which o. passesi ~
gun can reach ~. no defence d. pos
slbie. FortFessea explode. cities bur
up and men shrivei into nothlngnes.
Such n triumph ~ destruction
an ancient dream % mankind. ius
~ flying was According 20 trad
ton. Archimedes. the Greek inventor
DESTROYED the ships 0f MarceIlu
which we're attacking Syracuse In -
-. 9. by turning The suns rays o.
them By means 81 concentric mirror
signor rliu. an italian invento
claims - have discovered n methO
~ controlling the lnfra-red rays 4
the spectrum - that they will ignl'
any explosive or combustlbie in
metal oas. He has Given demonstr