IN NEXT WAR

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 24, 27 July 1929, Page 20

IN NEXT WAR

Wholesaledestfuction of eiti&s, terrorisation of civilian populations, and the loss of millions of lives within a few hours after an aerial attack on such centres as Paris or London—these possibilities of the next world war are described in pamphlet form by the Carnegio Endowment for International Peace, under the title of "Chemical Warfare—lts Possibilities and Probabilities," by Mrs. Elvira K. Fradkin, of Montclair, New Jersey, why has made a study of tho problem of chemical warfare, says the London "Daily Express."

The pamphlet deals chiefly with the dangers threatening civilians, and pleads for .adequate protection for noncombatants in the next war:—

Whether we like it or not the new far-cruising aeroplane, with its crew of six, and its mountings for ten machineguns, carrying a bomb load of 90001b, will bring death and destruction to a wide area, and, amid tho roar of antiaircraft guns, will not be able to choose military objects solely as targets. A whole city will be the target, and with the combination of high explosive and lingering poison gas that target can, and will be obliterated. When it is realised, further, that in the future, all sheKs from the 75mm. (18 pounder) up will carry some form of poison gas, our interest widens and deepens. The author believes.that the greatest

menace of tho next war will bo tho uso of liquid mustard. "There is no. practical protection against tho spraying of liquid mustard-at-present. Liquid mustard penetrates all clothing, rubber, and leather, and burns all skin with which it comes into .'contact. -Its vapour is moro poisonous than hydrocyanic acid; it'will persist on tho ground, grass, and underbrush for several weeks. Hostile aeroplanes equipped with mustard tanks and flying low enn release the liquid mustard on their tagot. . . so infecting largo areas within a few seconds, and covering them so effectively that practically every man and animal within the area would be 'a certain casualty. ..."

Tho picture of the devastation which can bo caused by aeroplanes travelling at anything from 200 to 250 miles an hour is not a pleasant one. A multitude of poison gases wero used in the lastwar, but.these, according to the author, " will bo a child's game compared with tho gases used in the future."

Tlio great danger to civilians from poison gas in the next war is 'emphasised by tho statement that tho International Bed Cross will open an intornational competition with a prize for a design of the most, effective typo of gasproof shelter... ; The recommendations of tho Bod Cross contain suggested instructions for the types of shelters to bo built, which are to take tho form of subterranean chambers hermetically sealed and provided with chemically produced oxygen. These would have to be built in largo ! numbers and of great size; they would contain stocks of chemicals for neutralising tho atmosphere and would be liberally stocked with food, water, and hospital appliances.