DONALD DUCK
Tuesday,
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
THE SIGNALS
[GEEFIT SURE IS
GETTIN' AWFUL
WORRY, BOYS
ON THE
RADI
FOGGY!
TO THE AIRPORT)
CEF THAT HOWS WORK
UNCA DONALDS
"CHILD'S PLAY BOY
IFY GO OFF THE ** COURSEL
GET WEAKE
OF
THE RADIO
Cope, 1940, Walk Dianey,
MAGAZINE
December 194b.
________By_Walt Disney
ALKEEP ON IT THEY
GET, STRONGER
AND ST...I
PAGE
WHAT MAKES AN
E
MUCH-BOMBED citizens
may gain small consola- tion in learning that their troubles are caused by waves of high-pressure air, lasting about 1-10,000th of a second and created by the combustion of trinitrotoluene and ammoni- um nitrate. But a knowledge of high-explosives is certainly topical nowadays and may be useful,
There are hundreds of ex- plosives, with varying powers and qualities, but "work" roughly the same way. A mixture, or compound, of chemicals which is stable en- ough in the ordinary way is either ignited by fire OX "shocked" by a blow or minor explosion. The result is a violent reaction, --producing great quantities of gas which burat the container and com- press the surrounding air into an expanding steel-hard wall moving at speed of miles a- second which pushes buildinga and people before it.
Following this wave of pres- sure comes one of low pressure -a virtual vacuum. Walls. and windows damaged by the first blast are dragged out- wards into the street. It has saved many in basements: killed some on the pavements. *
The first explosive really dates back to the thirteenth century when Roger Bacon's experiments produced the first pure nitre which, mixed with charcoal and sulphur, makes gunpowder (The earlier Chin- eso "explosives" were com- parative toys.) The first guns arrived early in the next cen- tury and for years could throw only iron or stone cannon-balls. The first ex- plosivo "shells"-metal balle filled with gunpowder and ex- ploded by a fuse consisting of a. tube filled with powder were used in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. They were not successful and did not supersede cannon-balls.
The perfection of porcussion devices, which would explode on contact and set off the main charge, came only in the early nineteenth contury. Thoy made possible the modern rifle, sholl and bomb, but it was mid century before the time fuse was ready for barrage war- fare.
For hundreds of years gun- powder was virtually, the only explosive. This did not suit nineteenth century war
SA 0
POS
By A. P. Luscombe Whyte
perts. They wanted vastly more power. And they want- ed different types of explosives -for filling bombs and shells they wanted fast-burning ones which developed all their force in an instantaneous, shattering blast; for propelling shells out of their guns they needed slow-burning explosives, which would not shatter the barrels but would exert a steady growing pressure on the shells.
In 1846 nitro-glycerine was produced. By spraying gly cerine into a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids, the scien- tists found that a thick, oily substance with dangerous habits was produced. If drop- ped, hit, shaken violently, it exploded with vast force. Some kinds went off if a fly was rash enough to alight on the surface.
years
No use as a commercial or war explosive, this. Until Nobel in 1867 mixed the tem- peramental nitroglycerine with wood flour and produced a fairly stable, casily handled plastic mase which he called dynamite. A few carlier other experimenters had treated cotton and wood- pulp with nitric acid and pro- duced another fairly safe (it absolutely pure) explosive---- Ideal for Alling torpedoes when they arrived later on-which was called gun-cotton. Other explosives followed. Modern warfare was about to quicken its tempo.
Form combinations of oily cotton came the first cordites nitro-glycerine and solid gun-
-slow-burning, safe, explo aives, suitable for propelling bullets and shells. Improved cordites are used to day (it takes an '80, lb. charge to fling a medium-sized, shell). Uncompressed and lit, they just burnt fiercely. But com- pressed and sent off by a per- cussion cap's small barat, they devoloped roat explosive force.
Much later, but in time for tho last war came the first Explosive.
important. There have been rumours of a "new" liquid-air bomb, tried out with "unexam- pled devastation" on Bar- Named trinitrotoluene, T.N.T.
celona. This explosive is not for short, it had a tremendous
new and probably unsuitable blasting effect as a filler for
for warfare. For long miners shells and bombs. It is still have used a cartridge of car- being used as such to-day-bon, which is soaked in cold despite the rumours of newer and more devastating agents.
It was not hard to make. Toluene, a liquid derived from coal, was mixed with nitric and sulphuric acids, and after a process of agitation. and tem- perature regulation, an oil which solidified when poured produced. into water, was One of the safest-except for the enemy of explosives.
Bombs and shells to-day are filled with T.N.T. or with an explosive called Amatol, which ns a mixture of T.N.T. and am- monium nitrate, and nearly smokeless. Amatol does not
new and probably unsuitable liquid air or oxygen immedi- ately before it is needed, and explodes-violently when deton- ated. No dangerous fumes are caused, but the liquid air evaporates rapidly at ordinary temperatures, and the cartri- dge soon goos dead.
Bombs filled with this explo- sive would be difficult to handle and, experts say, no more devastating than T.N.T. or Amatol.. Most possible explosive mixtures and com- pounds have already been tried out and a new "super- super" filling for bombs is not likely,
explode on slight provocation FUNNY SIDE UP
so the modern bomb. contains a "booster" charge of ordinary powder, which is set off by a small "percussion" charge of fulminate of mercury as the bomb hits the ground, and in turn starts off the main explo- sive charge,
A bomb loaded into a plane will not go off however much you belabour it. But, as it falls through the air, a tiny propoller-spinner twists off in. the rush of wind, and renders the bomb "alive." The weight of steel casing, noac-cap, fins, fuses and "booster" charge is Buch that the actual explosive is not more than half the total weight of the bomb and--in armour-piercing bomba is only about one-tenth.
The time-bomb, intended to crash through bulldings and pavements, is stronger but molds less explosive than the contact bomb which goes off directly it hits and causes a little crator. Acid, eating slowly through a metal con- tainer of any desired thickness, provides the "time fuse, actuates the detonator,
Though plosives exist, cort and Anabol are about the most
DEWALT DISNEY
Killed By Disease He Fought
SIR HENRY HEAD, one of
the world's greatest neuro- logists, devoted most of his life to finding out more about paralysis.
He risked getting the dis- eise by experimenting on him-
self.
He even cut the nerves of his legs, arm, near the elbow, to study "deep sensibility," and recorded his reactions day by day.
Eventually he fell a victim to Parkinson's disease, the form of paralysis which had occupied most of his studies.
Recently hia death, at the age of 79, was announced.
Cutting through the nerves of his left arm.31 years ago led to the development of now forms of surgery being de- veloped in the treatment of nervous diseases.
Specialists learned from this experiment how messages are. transmitted from the nerves to the brain.
Nobody knew more than Sir Henry about Parkinson's dis- ease, which is also known as trombling palsy. Trembling movements in certain parts tend to become widely diffused throughout the body.
Sir Henry became afflicted years ano. With the development of the dtcase he became a cripple.
As he gradually lost the use of his hands, Lady Hend undertook all his correspond- once and she handled his reference books for him until her death a year ago.
BLOOD TRANSFUSION GOES AHEAD
on
Row
The large scale air raids on London
calls have necessitated big the blood transfusion services. Re-
of blood are gular deliveries
made to the hospitals, often during raids and hundreds of lives have been saved, On one day alone some 309 pints of blood were given by donors, while S.O.S. calla "have inel with a magnificent response.
By Abner Dean
from him: In the
PROPERTS POLO
SHOE CREAM
IN
TAN, MAHOGANY, BLACK & WHITE
75c.
per jar
LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.
Guide to
10 Early CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
TRY WHITEAWAY'S FIRST
NEW SELECTION OF
DRESS
JEWELLERY
PENDANTS, BROOCHES,
CLIPS, ETC.
from $2.95 up
Gift
Boxes Of HANDKERCHIEFS from $1.95
LAVENDER SACHETS from $1:50
ANGORA SCARVES from $3.95
GIFT STATIONERY
ETC. ETC.
Toy BAZAAR NOW OPEN
Whiteaway, Laidlaw & Co., Ltd.
Kod
For the best
results in sun or shade in always use
VERICHROME
With its two emulsions, Kodak Veri- chrome film will give you best results, day in and day out„Jakes care of rea sunable exposure error. Performs brilliantly even when the weather isn't just right. Ask for "Venchiome" by name; lonk for KODAK on the box.
Hongkong Benevolent Society Room - 11, Ice House Street
The Society's Room will be open on MONDAYS & THURSDAYS
from 10 A.M.to_noon