The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-05-21
DEADLY war
GAS SPREADS
FEAR IN CITY
II Dead, Thousands Men
aCed When Tank Ex-
pIodeS in Germany.
SOLDIERS FIGHT FOG
Citizens Cover in Homes
TerrOrized by Poison
Cloud.
BIZ Times Special

BIZ Times Special
HAMBURG, Germany, Nav Iii
Eleven persons were reported dead
today in mysterious explosion of
tank of deadly phosgene gas, used
in war, that was being taken
through the populous suburb of
Williamsburg.
1t was reported that the dead in
cluded four f1remen and five DO
licemen, who with Reichswehr
troops, fought desperately with am
nonia guns to dissipate the great
gas cloud hanging over the city or
to drive it into less thickly popu-
lated areas.
The gas resisted all attempts to
disperse it. Though soldiers sue
ceeded in driving most of it across
the Hofe canal, it still lay close to
the ground in deadly mass.
POpulace in Fear
The 100000 inhabitants in the
Williamsburg district were afraid to
stay in their homes for fear of be-
Ing overcome beyond reach for help.
The tank of phosgene gas was
being driven through the streets
when it suddenly exploded. The
dangerous gas slowly seeped through
the air.
Hundreds saw the catastrophe and
Immediately started fleeing from
their homes, shouting of the danger
as they ran. Some were overcome
before they could get away from the
gas and later were found and taken
to the hospitals.
ReischwelW troops were called out
and all police modified to fight the
strange disaster.
Fishermen Overcome
AS the cloud swept across the
channel, several fishermen were
overcome. They were in their boats
in the canal and the noxious fumes
blanketed them. Most of these
fishermen were rescued.
Some few people on the banks of
the canal-awed by the gas and not
knowing what it was-were over
come as the gas worked it's way
dCIOSS Lie CIldIlIlSl.
The danger still was considered
grave, even though the major por-
ton of the gas has been sent out
of the city.
A sudden wind Is likely to blow
the gas in any direction. The streets
of Vebbeland and Williamsburg
were crowded last night by residents
who feared to retire, because the
gas might be blown back to fill their
homes.
Panic in Hamburg
Throughout Hamburg there was
panic. People rushed into the
streets, afraid of meeting death in
their homes, beyond aid.
During the forenoon strong rain
started, and a wind came up from
the east. The gas, moving solidly,
drifted toward an uninhabited heath
west of the city, and the danger was
diminished temporarily.
Gas of Deadly Power
Professor Fritz Haber, Germany's
leading poison gas expert, said to-
day that One-IaII GRAM VI Vi1C
deadly phosgene within a space OF
one cubic yard Of air was sufficient
to kill human being in one minute.
Professor Haber was mystifled re-
garding the origin Of the gas. He
said it was produced in wartime in
great quantities, but now Is manu-
featured in Germany only in the
smallest amounts, for use in GER
tain dyes.
Rain, he said, would destroy the
phosgene's power to harm.
Professor Haber said he was I'M
able to conceive how the Hamburg
company obtained the gas, which
was manufactured and stored I'M
der the greatest precautions.
officials of the company that
owned the gas, after hours Of 81
lence, said that it was destined for
industrial war. The gas had been
stored for seven years, it was said,
and during that time small quanti-
ties of it had been sold, some to
United States dye companies.