The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-02
ship FIRES TEST TO
HARM BRITISH NAVY
"Firebrand" Coal Thought to
Have Been Tested on the
ROchambeau.
GUARD ALL LINERS NOW

A mysterious chemical compound
which makes a new frebrand called
chemical coal Is believed by Federal
officials to be used by German agents In
causing fires In ocean liners carrying
munitions to the Allies. The new device,
the invention Of which Is credited to an
Irish chemist. Is said to have been tried
on ocean liners preliminary to causing
the simultaneous Gripping of all coal
burning vessels In the British navy.
Investigators for the Government have
learned of the invention and are doing
their utmost to ascertain whether It was
employed to start the hre on the French
liner Rochambeau on her last trip home
ward. They are said 10 have obtained
the ingredients OF the compound. but
they refused yesterday to give any hint
OF the substances used.
The compound may be used to soak
one small piece Of soft coal. which looks
just the same as before IL Is dipped.
Yet when the treated coal. tossed into
u heap OF the bituminous product, 10 left
alone IL is said to grow steadily In heat
anu iiilhaiN bSNOlAiS a oihLiu6 hioo8s tuu1
igniting the coal surrounding II.
The Federal investigators have become
convinced that the ire On tho Rocham-
beau was not accidental. As that ship
Is one of the few that, having been set
on fire in some mysterious manner. re-
turned to this port. a plan OF supervising
the coal from the that 1t wa
mined until 1t was placed In the bunkers
OF the ship wa worked out and tina,
plan has been followed.
Investigators who served az miners
in one OF the mines of the pocahontas
Coal Company in Virginia have been or
the alert. They We're on the cars Or the
vessels that brought the coal from Nir.
glnia to this city and they were on the
watch when the coal was dumped into
the bunkers.
Every person who a anything TO dc
with the handling OF the product or ever
approached the work near enough to toss
anything carelessly into 1t has beer
watched and his movements carefully
recorded. TIL coaling of the ship was
completed yesterday and the authorities
now will wait to see II any fire is started
mysteriously on the Rochambeau's mex
trip.
The chemical process is said to have
been discovered by a chemist in DubliI
hlti " y b''A S'"N ~ '"s ~ -
Irish leader who is favorable to the
Teutons. II was by his aid. ii Is sad
that the plan was developed for drop
ping the chemical coal into the bunker'
of British naval vessels.
Another startling phase OF the activi'
ties attributed TO German agents Is saic
to be threats sent TO Col. N!kolai Cole
j. Wski. the military attache OF the Rus
sian Embassy who this winter IL sta
toned in New York with headquarters IN
the Flatiron Building.
1t was learned from the police yester'
day that the Colonel said that he had
received threats that his two children
would be kidnapped n put to death
and that he himself would be killed. The
information was conveyed to the State
Department and finally policemen wer,
stationed to guard the Colonel's house
Is East Ninety-second street.
The Investigation into the cause Of the
explosion In the Du Pont powder mills
il believed to have called William J
Flynn. chief OF tho secret service. from
the city yesterday. He Is reported I,
have gone to Wilmington. Del. where L.
will superN lse IA thorough Investigation
The chief has remarkable resources a
his command In tracing such plots.