Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-10
M I weluemonh
at Krupp Plant"
Dutch Engineer S amazing Story
Of Starvation and Cruelty
in Essen.
BY VAN DER Linden
Copyright. 1917. international News
Bureau.

Erlach showed me round the labora-
tories and introduced me to other
chemists. one he pointed out to me as
the disccrercr Of new and most
deadly form OF gas, which had a special
effect upon metals.
At Erlachs request this chemist
demonstrated the gas. The case OF an
old metal watch was placed beneath
gaes-casc arrangement. and pipe,
through which the Gas passed. was
fixed. After being stepped in the yell
low gas for few minutes. the metal
case was taken from beneath the glass
and handed TO me. TO my surprise
:hc metal crumhled away in nakes
the action of the gas having PRACTICAL
~ rottca Ii.
| was told tina, this particular form
OF gn* was TO be used when the winds
favored it. against the mechanism or
tine big guns which were working such
havoc in the German lines. l believe.
however. that owing to its tendency TO
dispense rapidly in the air. the de-
sired results have not been achieved.
In another part OF the building
mctailurgis;s were husily engaged in
their special branch Of research work.
These gentlemen. too, appc"rco 10 DC
highly pleased with a discovery when
they had made. 1t was new alloy
lighter than aluminium, much stronger.
and possessing; the resisting power OF
steel. with even greater p!iapi!ilF.
The secret of it's composition did
no; learn but I was told that the sup
ply OF the necessary ingredients which
went 10 make the alloy was almost un-
limited. and that by the use az the
new metal il was hoped to solve the
problems arising from the shortage OF
steel
rhr rhiai OF Dcnth.
ia, Irla
branch Of science that tho real horrors
OF the German method Of making war
were brought home To me. Hc had re-
served the visit TO his laboratory III
tho last.
Erlach took me To small lahora
tory. where there were housed mum
Der OF rats and mice In cages. Sorc
were already dead. and others lay IN
"a state OF Scmistupor. These little
( animals had been extensively expert
mcntcd upon by the hactc rioloGis;s.
who had infected them with various
! germs.
From dark cupboard in ono corner
Of the place Erlach took "A small phiai
which he showed me with Elce.
Here III this little phial.' said
| rriach. lis the great discovery. the
sec; which | told YOU OF yesterday"
+ Aud with th: he carefully replaced 1t
{ in The cupboard, lockin tho door after
him.
Tia, LITTLE phial." said Erlach. con
taiEs tho germs Of q disease NOR"
fr;ehtfui than the plague. because much
quicker in It's action, and even moro
infectious. Two persons injected
might cause devastation in a city like
London. We shall spread il broadcast
| in Shells and combs and by any other
means which are likely 10 be sue
ccrsful."
y At once "a wthc great possibilities
Of this terrible method OF KILLING
humanity. Gcrmau agents might easily
carry small! phi.l 70 Britain. leave
X in a train. and the first person &c
open il would become fatally infected
Randy til" disease would spread, and
cities ana towns would be dccima ted.
inquired from Erlach whether the
Germans would not he afraid To use
such dreadful methods. lest they them
selves should become infected.
NO" said Erlach, when the germs
have been exposed to the atmosphere
for Il brief time they become inno,uoue
Those people who breathe them in i'm
mtdi lately after tho explosion or 4 She!
or bomb VIII surely die"
The Hitcr Rit.
\ few days after. two Of Erlach'
colleagues were discovered by tho pro
fcssor lying dead on the floor Of tn
laboratory. and near To them was foun'
an opcu rhial. which had contained tn
death dealing germs. The two mcl
ease While NrcrirncntinS. and had ap
parcntly died in Srca: agony. t.rlacl
MAS staggered aud iravcIy alarmed n
IL 81. 1T Il. ,C...