File No. 763.72111/2382
The Ambassador in Germany ( Gerard ) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 30, 2.45 p. m.]
2511. An advertisement of high-explosive shells containing acids, said to have been inserted in American Machinist for May 6 last by Cleveland Automatic Machine Company of Cleveland, Ohio, has been widely reprinted in Germany and is causing unfortunate impression here particularly words “fragments become coated with these acids in exploding and wounds caused by them mean death in terrible agony within four hours if not attended to immediately.”
I should be glad to learn status of American Machinist and whether advertisement is authentic. It seems possible that this is the work of German propagandists in the United States and if so, prompt exposure would be helpful here.