The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1948. MENACE OF BACTERIOLOGICAL WARFARE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22665, 16 June 1948, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1948. MENACE OF BACTERIOLOGICAL WARFARE

JS the cold war warming up? That is the question which inevitably arises from a perusal of recent messages covering intimations and opinions by men prominent in the world today. General. Smuts has issued the warning that Soviet communism, intoxicated with success, is directing “a sustained, ruthless and aggressive advance against an exhausted, war-wearv and disappointed West.” He declares that the hour lias struck to call a halt to this fifth column and to say to the Great Power behind it, “Thus far and no farther.” The British Minister of Defence, Mr. Alexander, states that Britain is conducting researches so that she will be ready .to meet any situation arising from germ warfare. Air Marshal Sir Hugh AValmsley, deputy chief of the Air Staff, advises the Royal. Air Force to get cracking pretty quickly because times are exceedingly difficult. Field Marshal Montgomery states: “If an aggressor^ starts anything, we must have the strength to see him off quickly.” And New Zealand’s own Sir Keith Park appears convinced that the risk of war has not been removed, despite the fine ideals of the United Nations. Nothing is more perturbing than Air. Alexander’s news that Britain is making pieparations to deal with possible germ warfare. At first thought it may not seem wise to draw public attention to such a dreadful prospect. It is nevertheless likely that the more vividly a picture of future warfare is drawn the better will be the chances of making the nations realise in time the criminal stupidity of carrying their arguments to explosion point. No doubt the British Minister of Defence intends Russia it would he futile now to pretend she is not a potential aggressor to ],o made aware of the fact that, if the worst happens,. Britain, as well as her allies, will be in a position to strike, back with blow for blow and weapon for weapon. Actually there is less risk attached to this policy of revealing national strength and determination than in the attitude of appeasement which hastened the 1939 tragedy.. As long ago as August, 3946, Andre Labarthc, doctor of physics and special correspondent, at the Bikini atom bomb.test, gave it. as his opinion that the world faces a much graver peril than even, the atomic bomb. “Now there is something more stealthy bacteriological warfare,” he wrote. “Scientists of the U.S. War Department have the secret of war without smoke, the. sudden attack of pollution, total war by germs. ... Decisive victories would he won without a shot. Instruction in the use of a spray would replace infantry. Instant, unconditional surrender -would he the only solution to save a whole nation from death. Victorious, regiments would not march through the capitals, but scientists, white-robed. and rubber-gloved, would bring with the armistice the scrum which would save the remnants of the vanquished.” Not all defence authorities would he prepared to say that infantrv would not he needed in a future war. At the very leas, an air force would he necessary to carry bacteriological warfare into an enemy country; this may explain why no nation today is neglecting development of its air arm. It may be that m the course of time the atomic bomb as a weapon, of offence will be outmoded and that early in any outbreak of hostilities victory would go to t c side whose s'cientists and airmen had built up the most effective germ warfare combination. ~ , , But oven the prospect of an early ending would not piev e t terrible loss of life and widespread suffering. It seems trite to say that the only reasonable course for the nations to pursue is to shun the awful prospects and come to a lasting agreement on all points of dissension. Yet wliat other advice could he given if civilisation is to he saved?