LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION

Evening Star, Issue 22365, 15 June 1936, Page 1

LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION

YOUTH GROUP * At a meeting ,of the Youth Group, League of Nations Union, "Mr W. G. M hittlestone, M.Sc., gave an address on ‘Chemical Warfare.’ He outlined the development of the use of gas m war from 1915 ouwardf, quoting Major Paul Murphy, F.1.C., to the effect that only the blunder of the German High Command in their too early disclosure of gas prevented them from gaining advantages which might have proved the decisive factor in the Great War. The speaker then described some of the gases used, classifying them into lung irritants, such as chlorine and the organic arsemcals, eye irritants or tear gases, and skin irritants, of which the best known was mustard gas. This was the gas that was used with such effect by the Italians against the •Ethiopians, It was estimated that Imperial Chemical Industries could produce 1,000 tons of this gas a week. Bombing as a method of release of these gases had, of course, tremendous advantages over the earlier methods which introduced an unreliable factor, the wind. Professor Langmuir claimed that 100 planes, each carrying one ton of gas, could cover Paris with a layer 20 metres thick—sufficient to annihilate the whole population if there were no wind; but it was only fair to state that other competent men disputed this statement. After describing the possible defensive measures against air attack, Mr Whittlestone emphasised the truth of Mr Baldwin’s frequently quoted statement : “ The only defence is offence, which means that you have to kill more women and children more quickly than the enemy if you want to save" yourselves.” He pointed out that liombproof shelters would cost Great Britain over £2O per head, a total of £1,000,000,000; and that gas masks were not as effective as the public believed. It was impossible for children and old people to wear them for any length of time, and there was no mask which could be used against’ all gases, although mice a gas was recognised, a mask could be devised to protect against it. Hence the secrecy preserved by each nation concerning the gases they might use.

Dealing with the statement that gas was a humane method of warware. the speaker quoted a nurse who had attended cases of mustard gas poisoning. A man fatally hit by shrapnel, she said, usually died in about 12 hours; but a man fatally gassed might live in terrible agony for weeks. In view of thyso facts, the abolition of poison gases as a weapon of warfare was frequently advocated; but the nations could have no guarantee that such disarmament would be effective; for many essential chemical industries could produce poison gases if the need 'arose. Perhaps one advantage of chemical warfare, however. was that it could not be put immediately. into operation, because of the inevitable delay in the preparation of gases. Hence an opportunity would be given for tempers to cool down and angry demands to be modified. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the speaker.