Evening star., 1937-03-20
GAS ALARM HELD
BEST SAFEGUARD
u. S. Expert Goes to Texas
for Probe Into School
Blast.

While officials discussed possible
measures for averting recurrence of
disasters such as that which struck
at New London, Tex, Thursday, ex-
preSslons OF regret at the mass killing
of the school children there were re-
ceived at Washington from the repre-
sentatives of many foreign govern
ments.
Such disasters might be prevented
by the development of a gas-alarm
system, DR.. David j. Price, dust explo-
sion specialist of the Agriculture De-
partment, said before leaving for the
scene of the catastrophe to aid local
investigators.
Efforts have been under way for
some time to develop a simple alarm
system which automatically would
warn of the presence of dangerous
concentrations of combustible gases,
he said.
Such a device, DR.. Price added,
might be similar to alarms now in
use which measure the presence Of
carbon monoxide in the air down to
very low concentrations.
The alarm might sound warning
or speed up ventilating fans to reduce
the concentration below the danger
point, the explosion expert amplified
Daniel Harrington, head of the
Safety Division of the Bureau of
Mines, predicted the exact cause of
the New London explosion would not
be determined for several days at
least. 1t may have resulted, he said,
from accumulated gas coming from a
pipe leak or gas burner inadvertently
left on by a student in the schools
chemistry laboratory
On the other hand, he added, the
gas may have filtered up from the
ground under the school or been car
ried considerable distance from a
gas we'll by the earth strata of the
region.
Germans Send Regrets.
The German government was the
first Of several to send expressions of
regret
Ambassador Hans Luther transmit
ted the following message to Secre-
tary Hull:
Il have learned with the deepest
grief Of the terrible disaster in New
London, Tex, which has resulted in
the loss of the lives of so many prom
ising American children. On behalf
OF the German government, as well as
my own behalf, I have the honor to
express to the Government of the
United States my profoundest SYM
pathy"
Similar messages were received later
from representatives of France, Po-
land, Norway and Canada
Rev. James Shera Montgomery,
chaplain of the House, opened its ses-
sion with this prayer:
Thou who canst fill with comfort
broken hearts, broken loves and broken
lives be Thou the angel of consolation
in that sorely stricken district in our
Southland In their deepest sorrow
and Saddest bereavement, unveil Thy
face in every home where tragedy is
so deep and overwhelming
20 speak, Mighty Life, and let in
the morning of hope and peace. Thou
Blessed Christ, whose love for little
children was so divine that it would
not let them go, take them and keep
them in the white light of the Fathers
throne. Their shadow was love, their
language was music and their steps
were a benediction.'
Individual expressions came from
many members of Congress.
Five Experts Sent.
Five Government experts on the
causes of explosions have been ordered
to the scene. They are DR. Price, who
was sent by Secretary Wallace fol-
lowing a request from Gov. James v.
Alfred and the following Bureau of
Mines specialists-D. J. Parker of Salt
Lake City, G. w. Jones of Pittsburgh
and H B. Hill and Gustave Wade of
Dallas, Tex.
Officials ordered regional executives
of the Works Progress Administration
to supply what aid they could.
Red Cross officials said Dr. William
De Kleine, medical director. left the
Capital yesterday by plane to take
charge of medical relief at New Lon
don.
| Admiral Cary T. Grayson. chairman
of the Red Cross, reported to Presi-
dent Roosevelt that the organizat ton
had finances and other facilities to
| meet all relief needs.