GAS PROTECTION PROBLEM UNSOLVED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 9

GAS PROTECTION PROBLEM UNSOLVED.

BRITISH RESEARCH

Disquieting Findings of Cambridge Tests.

CIVILIAN MASK OF LITTLE USE

United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11 a.m.)' LONDON, February 12. Simultaneously with, a sudden, over-night, "black out" test 'at Bedford, which was chosen as being an important strategic industrial town, and while E.A.R bombers carried out a realistic raid which seems to have awakened everybody, Mr. Victor Gollancz has published a book describing the Cambridge gas tests. The author discloses that gas penetrated the bricks and plaster, cracks covered with brown paper, sealed doors and fire-places in one room. Gas which outside was fatal in two and a half minutes would kill indoors in ten minutes. Scientists tested incendiary bombs and discovered that the official remedy of spreading sand was useless. Even welding thermit, which is a comparatively mild incendiary, burned under water through metal and sand. Completely gas-tight rooms could only be constructed by experts at great expense. A test of the 17/G civilian gas masks showed that it would protect against chlorine for four hours but did not solve the problem of protection against mustard gas which attacks the whole body.

One of the most important discoveries to result from the Bedford "black out" was that faint blue lights, shaded above and attached to lamp standards, which replaced the ordinary lighting system, rendered streets invisible from an aeroplane at an altitude of 2000 feet, but save sufficient light for traffic to move safely, enabling essential services to be maintained.

It was reported in a London message on February 8 that the "Daily Herald" and the "Daily Mirror" gave detailed accounts of two years' secret tests carried out by a dozen scientists in a room in the biochemical laboratory at Cambridge, the windows. and chimneys of which were sealed. The tests revealed that deadly gases cannot be kept out; even wearers of gas masks are susceptible to the influence of gas. "The Mirror" quoted Professor Marrack, noted chemical pathologist, who said he was surprised that the secret of the tests had leaked out. "Apparently gases cannot be excluded," he added. "Gas masks are useless when worn for a long time."