Grand Forks daily herald. (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1914-1916, 1914-10-08
= = 4 n
y FRENCH ARE SAID TO
BE USING TURPIN SHELLS.
New York SUM-

tNeW OTk sum-
London-There is considerable dis
which the French are said to be u.s.
ing. This new explosive, according to
the Daily Express, is so deadly in its
effects that all life is exterminated
within a radius Of 400 yards Of the ex-
ploding shells. According to some
stories regiments Of Germans have
been found dead in their trenches,
not mark on their bodies.
The Daily Express quotes a man
who has been known to the editor for
years and Is we'll informed In regard
to turpinite as saying:
For special reasons, which 1t would
be unfair for me to divulge at the
present moment. I am strongly Of the
opinion that these shells have not been
used to any large extent by the
French armies in the field. 1t is
probable that al actual test under
battle conditions has been made once
or twice, but no more.
Ready for Emergency.
That this terrific explosive will,
however, he used in case Of such an
eventuality as an attempt to take
Paris by storm ! have nc doubt. But
l am convinced, despite h thousands
Of bombs now prepared and the spe-
cial apparatus cast, this explosive, Sc
pounds Of which is able to kill, to
thing in q space of 400 square yards,
will not be used unless in very des-
perate circumstances and only with
the full consent Of Frances allies
In describing the new explosive the
Daily Express informant says:
The new explosive, which was in
vented two years g by NJ. Turpin.
the parent inventor Of melinite and
lyddite. Is undoubtedly the most ter
rifle and most death dealing high pow
er explosive ever known. Should its
use become widespread whole armies.
indeed entire nations, would be exter-
minated In the course of a rev
weeks. For this reason it probably
enters into the list of explosives the
use OF which is prohibited by the
Hague convention, although M. Tur-
pin says this is not the case.
After telling of NJ. Turpin's dislike
Of the French war Office methods and
his grievance following the govern
ment's acceptances of melinite and
lyddite the informant Of the Express
tells how NJ. Turpin set to work upon
a new explosive which he endeavored
to perfect so that melinite and lyddite
would be practically useless. He
worked for years. had a gun made
himself. the parts being constructed
at different points and then assembled,
and directed the making OF the shells.
The merest chance enabled me to
witness the early trials Of the new ex-
plosives," the writer continues. ION
q stretch Of sand 400 yards from high
water level a temporary sheep fold
had been erected about 400 yards
square and rallied off with wooden
hurdleA In this space were a dozen
sheep ana q couple Of worn out
horses.
zone Of the horses was contentedly
munching hay and the other wa rub
bling himself against one Of the hur-
dies. while the sheep were huddled to-
gether in q corner.
"ThtS was what I saw through my
glasses when from = ridge some $500
yards away there came q sharp, loud
thud and the sound Of q small she'll,
just Is though somebody had taken 1
piece Of silk and rapidly torn 1t in two.
There was an explosion In the open
space in the middle OF the improvised
sheep pen. The sheep were still hud-
died in the corner; one Of the old
horses was apparently lsAainf up
against the railing. The one that had
been mpnching hay lay on hi sdss