GERM WARFARE “INACCURATE CLAIMS MADE”

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 March 1949, Page 5

GERM WARFARE “INACCURATE CLAIMS MADE”

WASHINGTON, March 12.

While it would be folly to underestimate the potentialities of biological warfare, there was no factual basis for extravagant claims of the existence of a biological super weapon, said the United States Secretary of Defence (Mr James Forrestal) today. His statement had been rendered necessary, he said, by a great deal of public discussion that had been “extravagant, inaccurate, and unduly spectacular in the light of present scientific knowlege.” For example it had been stated that a single aeroplane with a small bomb filled with a biological agent could wipe out the population of an entire city at a single blow. “Such a statement is not in accord with the fact? as we know them,” I said Mr Forrestal. He added that in a recent article it was stated that one ounce of a particular poison would be enough to kill 200,000,000 people. It was impossible, however, to spread an ounce of any kind of material for purposes of warfare in such manner as would affect even a small percentage of such a trernenous number of persons. So far absolute means of swift, wide .spreading of agents of biological warfare had not been perfected. Even if an epidemic were started, adequate public health and sanitation measures and proper treatment wpuld limit its spread and minimise its effects. Mr Forrestal said that the United States must guard against saboteurs striking with disease weapons before a declaration of war. Food supplies would be especially vulnerable to such an attack. Major-General Alden Waitt, Chief of the Army Chemical Corps, said: “The biological method of warfare has great potentialities, but it is a weapon of the future. I have no doubt of its practicability.” "