GAS ATTACKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22345, 17 February 1936, Page 11

GAS ATTACKS

AERIAL MENACE PROTECTIVE MEASURES INSTRUCTING THE PUBLIC AMBULANCE LEADER'S VIEWS The importance of the public being instructed in protective measures against gas warfare was emphasised yesterday by Colonel J. L. Sleeman, chief commissioner of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas, on his arrival in Auckland from Taurauga by motorjar. Colonel Sleeman, who will be ac-_ corded a civic reception to-morrow, will visit the Waikato before returning to Auckland later in the week to attend various functions. " These are days when every boy and girl, man and woman, should know something of first aid," Colonel Sleeman said. " The importance of this is indicated by the fact that all civilised nations to-day, with the exception of Great Britain, have practised their people in gas warfare protective measure* Urgent Need For Instruction " The delay has been caused by the hope that this horribly and cowardly form of warfare would never be used, but now that Britain has seen that every foreign nation, including the United States, has indicated its recognition that aerial gas warfare will form the first phase of any hostile attack, it has at last seen the extreme necessity of carrying this instruction to the British people. The result is today that throughout England instruction is being given by the St. John Ambulance and the Red Cross, which are combining most harmoniously to this humane end. " While it is to be fervently hoped that New Zealand \rill be spared from this deadly menace, the outlook certainly behoves as many as possible to enter into ambulance work, in order that, should the necessity arise, there would be a sufficient number of instructors to help in the work. Dreaded Mustard Gas " The type of gas most dreaded is a new form of mustard gas which cai> be sprayed from an aeroplane at a considerable height. Its effects are such that, contaminating a macadam road or a concrete wall, it will blister through boots or clothes within a few hours, and will remain active for at least four days. The methods of protection are fortunately not difficult, providing they are known, while the provision of a gas-proof shelter is comparatively easy if correctly understood. " Lastly, the need for de-contamina-tion of a poisoned area is of considerable importance, and this also can be done within a few minutes, providing the necessary materials are available and their use is known. This is what the civil inhabitants of England are now being taught by the St. John Ambulance." The high standard of efficiency of ambulance work in New Zealand was commented upon favourably by Colonel Sleeman. He said that the of Tst. John would never forget that New Zealand had the nroud distinction of having formed the first men's division of the Brigade Overseas, and the second women's nursing division. It was only of recent years that the importance of the cadet divisions of the brigade had been realised, and it was therefore considerable interest to find that New Zealand already possessed almost as many cadets, both boys' and girls' divisions, as the rest of the Empire overseas put together.