The New York herald., 1921-09-23
BADISCHE DISASTER
LAID TO A NEW GAS
Experts Believe Explosion Ac-
companies Tests Of Undis-
closed Properties.
Bu ths Associatea rress.

~ rHc ASSocfufrd FfcSS.
MANNHEIM, Germany, Sept. 22.-Des-
oiation and ruins alone remain of what
was once the flourishing town Of Oppau.
The town had $500 residents, of which
majority OF the men engaged in the
Badische Chemical Works We're killed or
wounded. Eleven hundred dead and
1000 injured is the latest estimate of
the disaster yesterday, which caused a
greater number of casualties IN the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES district than
the four years of the war.
The desolation around Oppau equals
anything seen at verdun or in Flanders
over similar area. Hundreds OF per-
sons are digging in the ruins for the
bodies OF relatives or friends. nearly a
thousand of which have been recovered
thus far.
The experts who are inquring into
the GAUGE said that the explosion prolba-
bly, occurred in the course OF tests of the
compression Of new gas. the proper
ties of which We're insufficently known.
1t is recalled that 1t was in these
Badische works that the first poison gas
used in the war was produced.
Primarily, it is reported. the disaster
was caused By the explosion of fifteen
tons of ammonium sulphate in the prep
aration of new gao in which the pres
sure of 800 at7nospheres and tempera-
ture of between 500 and 700 degrees
Centigrade were needed.
Thirty-six hours after the explosion,
from the gaping, funncllike hole where
the Badische works formerly stood. there
are still to be heard moaning and cries
fthe injured, while tho soldiers search
FOR possible survivors. Twenty-Five hun
ored OF the injured are reported to have
passed through the hospitals of the sur
rounding cities.
The vast crater is slowly filling with
water. and IL may never be known how
many victims found a grave there. All
nutilated but still living animals crawl
ing amidst the twisted girders and
blocks of concrete are being put out of
their misery. The firemen and relief
workers have not vet been able to dis
card their gas masks.
The Thirty-second Army Corps of the
French Army is in complete charge of
the area, and every available French
medical officer had arrived early this
morning to cooperate with the German
physicians and surgeons. The French
and the German Red Cross arc cooperat-
ing. and a big German sanitary train has
brought large quantities of medical sup
plies. The German officials thanked
Gen. Degoutte for the prompt manner IN
which the French Army came to the as
sistance OF the victims. The French
High Commissioner on tho Rhine, M.
Tirard, and his entire staff took charge
of the relief work.
From FranlSenthal, four miles away.
there was a steady exodus of the
population, In which bandaged heads
and arms in sings were conspicuous.
The village of Edigheim was badly
wrecked. and it has not yet been pos
slble to rescue some OF the victims who
are known to be under the debris.
At Oppau whole families were conn
pletely wiped out. About 900 bodies
have been recovered, OF which 800 have
sleady beon placed in the adjoining
cemetery awaiting burial. The Mann
helm hospitals are crowded with in
jured, more than 400 persons having
suffered from the explosion i'm this city.
Gen. Degoutte personally decorated a
Moroccan soldier who rescued eleven
wounded from the wreckage. the African
being severely burned about the hands
and neck.