ASPHYXIATING GASES

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9095, 14 July 1915, Page 9

ASPHYXIATING GASES

HAGUE CONVENTION VIOLATED BY THE GERMANS.

The nee by the Germane of poisonous gases as a means of warfare was recently referred to by the British Minister for War, Lord Kitchener, ne being contrary to the solemn pledge signed by the German representatives at the Hague Convention.

Speaking in the House of Lords on April 28th, Lord Kitchener said "The Germans, have introduced a method of placing their opponents hors de combat by the use of asphyxiating and deleterious gases, and they employ these poisonous methods to prevail when their attack, according to the rules of war, might have otherwise failed. On this subject I would remind Your Lordshins that Germany was a signatory to the following article in' the Hague Convention : “ ‘Th© contracting Rowers agree to abstain from the use of projectiles, the object of which is the diffusion of asnhyxiating or deleterious gases/ ” Th© above was signed by the representatives of:—

GREAT BRITAIN July 29th, 1893 Belgium »• Remnant .. ~ • »• Spain »> •> united States of Mexico Trane© ~ •• Greece ~ •> Montenegro ~ •• Netherlands „ ■ Persia » »» Portugal .. ~ i* Ronmania. •• Russia •» •• Siam »• Sweden and Norway ... „ •• Turkey •. •• Bulgaria .. . •> „ GERMANY Sept. 4th, 1900 Austria-Hungary ... «• Italy *’ n _ Japan Oot. 6th, 1900 Switzerland • Servia May 11th, 1901 Xluxembourg July 12th, 1901 China Nor- 21st, 1901