大象传媒

Following the rapid progress made by the British 8th Army up the Adriatic coast of Itlay, it was thought that resistance by the Germans would collapse. American intelligence feared that Hitler might be tempted to hault the rapid withdrawal by the use of poisonous gas. In order to be able to combat such a move the American high command shipped a small number of mustard gas shells to Italy. This was thought to be best done secretly,the shells were unmarked and did not appear on a ship's manifesto as poisonous gas shells. A special agent of the US government was allowed to accompany the assignment and to see that it was lodged in a safe place.
In order to speed up the rate of unloading, 6 cargoe vessels linked prow to stern in Bari harbour. Flood lights were installed to illuminate the vessels and unloading continued night and day. The harbour was protected by radar guided AA guns. Unfortunately these could only detect high flying aircraft. A sneak bomber crept in under the radar screen and dropped a single bomb on the leading vessel. The ship exploded and the explosion caused other vessels to explode in sympathy. The mustard gas shells infected the harbour water and a pall of green vapour drifted towards the town of Bari. Seeing people gasping for breath caused the entire population of the town to panic and a stream of men, women and children raced out of town towards Brindisi.
People infected by the gas were treated at the New Zealand base hospital for having inhaled deisel fumes. It was not until the situation leaked back to the US high command that the hospitals could be informed of the true nature of the situation. Tragically the new 3 centimetre radar sets of which the writer was in charge, and were detailed to protect Bari docks, were delayed by a violent storm in the Mediterranean. It was decided by both US and UK governments that this error should remain a close secret.

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