Evening star., 1939-10-15
BY HOWARD w. BLAKESLEE,
Associated Press Science Editor.

Associated Press Science Editor.
NEW YORK, Oct. 14.-A dustpan
with long handle, a rake, a scuttle
and a hand-pump throwing a spray
of the variety that Aunty uses on
her Garden are the defense against
the dreaded incendiary bombs OF
the war in Europe.
Not only are they a defense but
they are the best defense. This
sounds incredible in view of the
fact that the bombs may burn at
4.500 degrees Fahrenheit, hot
enough to vaporize steel.
But the facts on use of the kitchen
utensils, based on extensive tests
are set forth in the British air raid
precautions handbook No. 8. There
is always the chance of people losing
their heads in terror at strange
piece of metal which burns like tin
der and which most people didn't
dream exists outside of scientific
laboratories. But if people keep
cool and try the methods of the
handbook it is even possible for the
boys with yen to become firemen
70 have thrilling evening.
The most effective bomb for
burning city is the electron bomb
AS made by the British it is cylin-
der of the metal magnesium inches
long and inches wide. The Italians
have one made of magnesium and
shaped like small 10-cent Ameri-
can can. These bombs weigh about
2 pounds.
One large bomber, the book states
can carry between 1000 and 1000 of
these small bombs Flying at zoe
miles an hour. releasing 20 bombs a
second a Warplane would drop 1.OOC
| in little under miles. A grour
of them spilled simultaneously from
one container at l mile altitude
would in landing, spread over loo
square yards
Bomb Does Not Explode.
These bombs will start fires only
when they fall on inflammable ma
terial. Military men estimate that
in average city conditions per cent
OF the missiles will start fires, unless
they are dealt with in 2 or 3 min
utes after striking. The object is
to start so many fires that no fire
brigade could be expected to deal
with them.
The electron bomb does not ex-
plode. In its interior is packed a
priming composition containing
thermite which burns for 40 or so
seconds at about $500 degrees Fahr-
enheit. This serves to melt and ig-
mite the magnesium tube or can
The molten magnesium burns 10
to Is minutes at heat of about
1900 degrees Fahrenheit, the equiv
alent of white hot steel 1t may re-
main active for 20 minutes.
During the first so seconds the
bomb looks very violent. Through
vent holes pieces of molten mag
nesium may be thrown so feet. How
ever, the melting of the magnesium
releases the internal pressure and
ends this violent stage.
II an ordinary hose stream is
turned on the metal it will explode
and scatter the fiery materials over
wide area. The reason for this
explosion is that the water causes
the metal to burn faster. 1t burns
quicker because it takes the rich
store of oxygen from the water
and this, added to the oxygen from
the air speeds the combustion.
Spray Prevents Spread.
This fearsome fact, however, is
the basis of the kitchenware method
of fighting the bombs. For if in
stead of solid stream a spray is
turned on the molten magnesium it
does not explode but simply burns
up at very high speed due to the
oxygen in the water. At the same
time the spray vets the surround
ings and prevents spread of fire.
This technique is supposed quick
ly to reduce the incendiary bomb
to state where it can be swept
out by the family. The kitchen
utensils for that purpose are spe-
cially designed and are furnished
by the British home Office. The rake
has very long handle, the dust
pan is of the type used by Amer
lean housewives to save them from
STOPPING over, but the handle is
longer. The scuttle is designed to
keep the flaming remnants safe