'Humanity-Destroying Germs Produced’

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28801, 23 January 1959, Page 9

'Humanity-Destroying Germs Produced’

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 22. British scientists in defence establishments on Salisbury Plain are reported today to have developed “germs which can wipe out the world’s population.”

The “News Chronicle’s” science correspondent, asserting this in a front page article, said that “a few specks of these germs ’ are enough to .kill more than a million people. “A pound of them is ehough to depopulate the world and destroy all animal life.” The correspondent said that this unseen deterrent, perfected after five years’ work at the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment, “can be mass-produced cheaply by the smallest nations.’’ The germ, known as botulinus toxin, could be spread in food and water and survive fire and ice. The 'British scientists were also working on 40 or more other plague germs, on poliomyelitistype viruses, nerve gases, cholera and typhus germs. Scientists in the United States and Russia were also working on

the development of plague germs, the correspondent said. The science writer’s disclosure was made after a hint of the existence of the deadly substance was given by the radar pioneer. Sir Robert Watson-Watt, in a speech in Montreal, Canada. Sir Robert Watson-Watt was quoted by the correspondent as saying in a trans-Atlantic telephone conversation last night, “This (botulinus) toxin is much worse than the dirty H-bomb. x “For small countries with limited resources can easily make enough of it to blackmail the whole world. “This poison—and there are many others—is easy to spread in drinking water and food,” he said “Any country which used it could strike down whole cities and countries within six hours. “The germ is quite safe Jor the aggressor to use because its

lethal effects vanish within 12 hours. By then, all people and animals have been wiped out.'' said Sir Robert Watson-Watt The “News Chronicle" devoten its main f leading article to the report and described the disclosure as “stark anti horrifying." The newspaper said: “The poison is so trighttul that it is almost impossible to believe that any nation would resort to it "The lesson of this grim news now released is simple and hot new. The world has got to come to its senses, not for the benefit of Russia. America. France, Britain or anyone else, but for survival.” Sir Robert Watson-Watt yesterday listed three ways in which the world’s population could be wiped out in a few, hours. He said that if hill knowledge of the methods were known it might save the destruction . of civilisation. He said in an interview with ' United _ Press International that everyone was familiar with the first method, the hydrogen bomb, “which with the initial explosion and fallout could destroy man.”

The second method was through biological substances and the most deadly of these was a half-pound of toxin which can be produced by the organism “botulinus " He explained that the toxin. If delivered into the bodies of humans, would take only half a pound to kill the animal and human population of the world. It was easily produced, was well-known, and with an organisation or well-trained group it could be distributed easily to make it lethal. The scientist said the effects wear off within hours and the invading army could march in without any fear. Sir Robert Watson-Watt said the third method of destroying man was “through nerve gases, which long have been known.’’ He said that since his retire? ment a year ago as scientific advisor to the British Government, be bad lectured around the world, because “I have to do something and the subject weighs heavily on my conscience.”