NOTES ON THE WAR NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 108, 2 November 1940, Page 10

NOTES ON THE WAR NEWS

GREAT ACTIVITY

CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

WAR STIMULATION

Though the war exerts a depressing .influence in many directions there is one industry which is being vastly stimulated by it. This is the chemical industry of the world, which is being asked for new products and aid in new processes.and which is reported to.be responding remarkably well.

Normal trade channels and sources of supply have been cut for many countries and in consequence they have been turning to the products of the laboratory to make up. for what they are unable to obtain from the customary suppliers. This trend, of course, is a continuation of a process which was in operation before the war began, especially in Germany, where the effort has long been to organise industry for war.

The Reich has evolved' substitutes for linseed oil and other natural oils, fats, rubber, and fertilisers, which are difficult to obtain because of the British blocVade. Not all of these, however, are available' in sufficient supply.

Another development in Germany is a bromine derivative antiseptic which is made completely from German materials and is used by the" German army. Also developed in Germany are a vaccine to combat dysentery, and oxidation-preventives for edible fats and oils.

Black-out Faint

! British chemists have produced a hew black-out paint which is used as an air-raid protection on windows in. place of the earlier screening methods. The British chemical industry last year, it is reported, was at its highest point of activity for many years past. at first by the uncertainties of the international outlook and later by the war itself, it expanded its production capacity; established firms enlarged their plants, and others, with no previous record in manufacture, turned to this side of the industry as well as continuing their former activities.

New developments recently reported to have taken place in-Britain are increased production of barium chloride, the manufacture of the highly; important vitamin E and, of course, the making of substitute fuels for Jbniotor vehicles. The types of fuels .on^hich work is being done include producer gas, manufactured from solid fuel burned in a gas producer in. the vehicle, and compressed illuminating gas carried in cylinders. For electric vehicles batteries are carried, and efforts are being made to improve them. ...

In Germany,

German chemical production, of which British knowledge has been gained largely from a recent report by the United States Consul at Frank-fort-on-Main, Mr. Sydney B. Kedeker, to his Government, also expanded materially in 1939. Though little detailed information is available on the subject of experiments now in 1 progress there, Mr. Redeker managed to obtain an outline of some- of the developments. •

He reports that these include a luminous paint which can be seen a short distance at night and is invisible to high-flying aircraft, the development of which was the result of years of experimentation and employment of which was reported in the British Press early in the war. In addition enlargements and improvements in the coke-oven and coal-tar distillation.industries are being carried out, and the iron and steel industry is being ex* tended.

Products From Waste.

A sulphuric acid plant is being built, and no doubt will receive the attention of British bombers. There are new establishments for recovering phenol (carbolic acid) from industrial waste -waters and for recovering sulphur from gases produced in synthetic oil plants. In addition, there are new plants for producing alcohol and.animal fodder from waste and inferior wood, and new electro-chemical plants are reported to be in course of establishment. : , •

The activity of the ' industry, however, is by no means confined to the belligerent countries, but is . mounting throughout the world! Suck things as artificial fibre, motor fuel, fatty acids," lacquers,. carbon black, arid pro - tein fodder, all of which are being experimented upon in Germany, are receiving attention elsewhere also. Ous of the interesting; Nazi attempts is that to discover a fireproofing agent which may be a defence against incendiary bombs.

American Bomb-sight

From time to time the question whether Britain has. the American Sperry bomb-sight is raised in the cables. The interest in this matter is due to the great claims made for the sight by usually moderate circles in the United States and to the fact that possession of it is believed to confera great advantage. The War Department has consistently refused to give. any. information as to whether Britain has the sight. However, something very close to an admission was obtained by the usually well-informed "New York Times" late in September.

The Washington bureau of that newspaper reported that technological advance in the making of implements of war was so rapid that the Government was able to release a dozen, devices which were recently considered military secrets. Five years ago it was the practice of the United States Government to release aeroplanes for foreign sale only a year' after they were in production. Improvements in design have now resulted in the releasing of aircraft for foreign sale after the second machine of any new series has been built.

Has Several Sights

Contrary to the popular..impression, the United States army has not one secret bomb-sight; but several, which it regards as superior to those of any foreign military force. American manufacturers have pending petitions for the release of eleven bomb-sights belonging to the army and navy. The American Press regarded the admission that older devices were available for shipment abroad as an indication that Britain might have been supplied with the bomb-sight. President' Roosevelt seems to have discouraged the idea that the Sperry sight has been released.

One interesting admission by the War Department was that the commercial version of the famous "Flyin* Fortresses," of which mention was made in a cable some,weeks back had. been released for sale months ago but as far as the "New York Times" could learn, not a single foreign Government had applied for an ■ export licence for these machines.