A GHASTLY VISION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 15 February 1933, Page 5

A GHASTLY VISION

EXPERTS ON DEADLY HORRORS OF NEXT WAR UNQUENCHABLE FLAME LONDON, Bth February._ “The most terrible hook every written,” is the description applied to 18 articles by military, scientific, and economic experts, for the information of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, on the character of the next war, during which, it is declared, it will be safer at the front than at home. Experts believe that immediately oil the outbreak of fighting unprecedented barbarity will begin on land and sea and in the air. International law will be completely disregarded and civilian populations murdered in the mass. In addition to familiar predictions of air raids and gas bombardments killing millions in a few hours, writers forecast raids during which will be dropped electric incendiary bombs filled with thermite, developing a heat of 3000 degrees and eating through every obstacle, setting fire to gas mains, anr 4 causing flames for which extinguishing appliances have not yet been discovered. Water will only increase the incendiary effect.

Field-Marshal von Ludendorff reveals that preparations wore afoot in 1918 to set fire to London and Paris witli air bombs filled with magnesium and ferric oxide.

Major-General Fuller, one of the British officers during the Great War, recalls that during the recent air manoeuvres only 16 out of 250 raiders on London at night were sighted. He envisages enormous raids by unmanned torpedo ’planes directed from ’planes at invisible altitudes, and adds that civilians would only he safe in huge subterranean fortresses which would be too expensive to construct.

He adds as a grim commentary on the fact that, the world is struggling to pay war debts, that the British alone fired shells costing £22,000,000 during the preliminary bombardment at the third battle of’Ypres % Francis Delaisi, a French expert, declares that the nation with a powerful chemistry industry requires no other war material. Ollier writers believe that disease germs will he spread and reservoirs poisoned.