CHEMICAL WARFARE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20415, 23 May 1928, Page 10

CHEMICAL WARFARE.

POSSIBILITIES OF GAS. GHASTLY PICTURES OF NEXT WAR. In spite of tentative agreements to the contrary it appears to be almost certain that gas will be used as an offensive weapon in future warfare, and on a far greater and more deadly scale than in the Great War, not only against combatants, but as a measure of " frightfulness ” against non-combatants as well. In an article entitled “ Gas Warfare ” in the English Review, M. Andre Michelin emphasises what he states to be the fact that while Germany, Britain, and the United States are openly preparing themselves for chemical warfare rranee is neglecting the matter entirely. Even -in French military circles its importance is minimised. This indifference M. Michelin regards as extremely grave, because it exposes France to a technical surprise from a new gas against which the regulation gas masks, will bo no protection. The only method of defence that he regards as effective is a close study of every branch of chemical warfare. M. Michelin expresses the opinion that but for the tremendous weapons that German chemists placed in the hands of the General Staff the war would not have lasted a year. Though the Allied blockade cut Germany off to a great estept from supplies of raw material the very high standard of German chemistry supplied the deficiencies. It enabled the manufacture of gunpowder and high explosive detonatois, and nearly all their most essential raw materials, such as sulphuric and nitric acid, and even supplied synthetic substitutes for bread, meat, eggs, forage, and numerous other foodstuffs. “ Chemistry permitted Germany to maintain a war for four years against 11 nations, and, above all, it was due to the new arm, gas, that Germany was enabled to withstand the terrific pressure for so long.” While high explosive shells are only effective at tb.ejr point of impact the gas shell efficiency covers a much longer period of time and a far wider danger one. The most persistent of these cases, mustard gas, retains its noxious effects for days. Being heavier than air it creeps along the ground, and fills the trenches and dugouts, making them untenable in a manner beyond the power of H.E. shells.' In showing the rapid loss of personnel through gas, M. Michelin quotes figures from the Verdun offensive showing how more than 10,000. men were killed or put out of action by gas in three days. It is possible that the discovery of some new gas might catch, not an army, but a whole nation napping at the outset of hostilities. It is characteristic of gas during the Great War, that while it put the greater number of combatants out of action it actually killed fewer than high explosive shellfire. In one sector it was fatal in only one instance of every 40. affected, but it keph the victims longer out of the line than shell wounds. London and Washington authorities regard gas as having become established as a weapon, and its abolition could only be brought about by the abolition of war. Every new weapon, Miche- ' iin states, has caused an outcry on the grounds of inhum; nity on its introduction. When firearms were first invented the outcry was long "and loud. Probably the intrcduction of the bow and arrow was met with similar opposition. In 1139 the Lateran Council forbade the use of firearms against Ch.-stians. History repeats itself in the opposition to gas. The subject has come up before the .League, au.l ti.e question has been referred from committee to committee for years, and no decision against the use of gas has beer, given. There are wide diflerences of opinion between delegates, and unanimity is very improbable. A sinister turn is given to the situation E' jm the fact that Germany is supplying Rvssia with military aircraft, and is actually building for the Soviet Government a suffocating gas factory at Kharkov. M. Michelin concludes his article by giving a ghastly picture ,of. ag, a attack in force on a large city loom the air by which a fleet of "planes, and not a very large fleet, could, with gas and incendiary shells, destroy the city and exterminate its inhabitants in a few hours. His only solution of the question of the protection of the inhabitants is that- of - vast subterranean bomb and gas-proof shelters for civilians. The only security lies in such protective measures, and the study of chemical warfare that will provide for immediate retaliation.