GERMAN GAS AND GERMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22368, 15 September 1934, Page 13

GERMAN GAS AND GERMS

A GENERAL’S DISCLOSURES

LONDON, September 0

A tank armed with big guns and capable of a speed of 59 miles an hour. A gas 40 times as deadly as any knoAAn destructive agent. Planes able to carry enough gas to kill 1,500,000 persons. Germany has all these, declares an anonymous-German'general whose journals are published by Jarrold’s, under the title of “Berlin Diaries.”

They are edited by Dr Klotz. Their author, who \vas clearly in the confidence of the highest personages until Hitler became Chancellor, describes the late A-on Hindenhurg as a man who let everybody down, adducing instances of his faithlessness. He says that Dr Goebbels is a Mephistopheles avlio is able to twist anything to mean its opposite, and that General Goering is a disgusting swaggerer. Countless entries show the author’s supreme contempt for Hitler. He declares that the accession of Hitler to poAver means “Ave haA'e gone off our heads.”

There are astonishing m*elations of Germany’s preparations for gas and bacteria bombardment from the air, confirming Mr 'Wickham Steed’s published charges of June 27. There are records of visits to chemical factories, Avhere he witnessed the production of a gas called “ Red Cross,” 40 times more deadly than “yellow Cross,” “which, God knows, is powerful enough.”

After inspecting a gas factory at Bitterfeld, he Avas of the opinion that 10 passenger planes could carry sufficient gas to kill 1,500,000 persons. At Duisherg the managing director of the German Chemical Trust introduced him to a colleague doing research Avork on bacterial Avarfare, who was convinced that Germany could risk war to-morrow. The general gives the opinion that, compared with the next Avar, the World. War will seem a honeymoon.

He is also satisfied that Germany already possesses sufficient machine guns. He tested a tank capable of 59 miles an hour.