LONDON'S AIR PERIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18380, 21 April 1923, Page 9

LONDON'S AIR PERIL.

POSSIBILITIES IN WAR. GAS-FLOODED STREETS. A GERM BOMBARDMENT. ■■--•'•* "'■■ LONDON - . April 8. ." lam sure the public does not realise the full menace of the air forces of an enemy compared with his land and 3ea forces," writes Lord Montagu of Beaulieu in the Observer. Instancing London's wide danger radius, he points out that raids by fullyloaded airplanes were possible from Germany. If airships were used in the attack they could come from Russia. . ■''' Meteorological conditions \' in the North Sea were most favourable during several months of the - year, owing to low visibility, . while the likelihood of a surprise attack was increased owing to the attackers not passing land after leaving Denmark. " The dangers were better realised in France, which is the true reason for the French increasing the number and efficiency of their air force. " Air warfare will increase in dreadfulness owing to the use of highly-com-pressed * gas contained in bombs, which, if exploded in London at night, would fill the streets, leaking into every crevice. The gas would asphyxiate the people in their beds before the morning wind or any other agency drove it away. " Worse still is the possibility of the use of millions of germs for poisoning water and for spreading disease and death." " - Referring to \ the failure oi ! the Hague Convention; in 1914, Lord Montagu ridicules the suggestion that such bombs would be forbidden under the Leagua of Nations air convention. It was not likely that Russia and Germany would bind themselves to any limitation in the means :of making war which would provide the most effective method of reaching or compelling a distant antagonist to fight a losing battle or surrender. : vr.;.-v.