THE GAS NIGHTMARE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22368, 15 September 1934, Page 2

THE GAS NIGHTMARE

AWAKENING OF ENGLAND PLAN TO PROTECT CIVILIANS. Not before time, but, fortunately, not too late, the British Government has decided to take measures for the protection of the civilian population against possible gas attacks from the air. Representatives of the Air Ministry, the Home Office, and the War Office have met in conference, and, as a result (says the London correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald) a general scheme has been drawn up. The duty of bringing into operation the suggested arrangements and of giving advance instructions to residents in their respective areas will devolve upon local authorities, who will be invited to hear the views of the Home Secretary at a meeting in October, it is stated that the plans will be sufficient to cover all known risks so far as is scientifically possible. Naturally, there is no desire or intention to alarm the nation. War in the immediate future with England as a participant is unlikely. Nevertheless, the situation in Europe is far from stable. More than one country is obviously straining at the leash Indeed, a conflict of some sort on the Continent appears to intelligent observers as the most probable outcome of the present chaotic, conditions. The only question that would then arise would be: Could Britain Remain neutral? Public opinion is definitely against active intervention in any Continental clash, but experience has shown that once a war starts there is no saying how or where it will end. The duty of the British Government is, therefore,, to be prepared, however remote may be the chance that it will become embroiled with the Government of another Power. And since the greatest menace of modern warfare is poison gas, the only logical course is to adopt precautionary measures. So far as can be gathered at this early stage, every town and city is to be asked to name its most effective bomb shelters and to arrange for the local distribution of gas masks and other equipment* in a time of emergency. Special instructions are also to be given for warning the public of approaching raids, and every man and woman in each residential district will be told what his or her movements wmuld be in the event of an attack. It might be said that the organisation will be on similar lines to that which obtains on an ocean liner as regards fire and boat drill.

Naturally, a scheme of such enormous proportions will give rise to many difficulties, not the least of which will be to find an adequate supply of suitable gas masks. In this connection, it is stated, several firms have been asked to experiment with masks that could, if needed, be universally distributed. As yet, however, no appropriate type of mask has been officially accepted, if only for the' reason that there are gases which can penetrate every kind of mask now in use. There is, in consequence, an urgent call for further reserach in this direction and for more intense investigation generally of anti-gas devices. PRECAUTIONS IN EUROPE.

Other nations arc facing, the situation squarely. In Germany all householders are “severely" encouraged to join the Luftschutzbund (Air Defence Association) Attics are periodically inspected with a view to the removal of all inflammable material, and in each tenement a. man lias been appointed to take command should a raid occur. At certain siren signals the population is instructed to go into special underground cellars, of which there is a list in public places. Gas mask depots have also been established. In Italy, patricular attention has been paid to the problem, every citizeneven to the children—being taught what to do and where to go in time of danger. The gas mask trade in Paris has become so important that the Prefect of Police has issued regulations to control it. Indeed, Fiance takes the possibility of a “gas war” so seriously that fortunes are being made out of anti-gas appliances of every conceivable kind. The regulations governing masks are ns follows: — 1. No gas mask may be sold to the public unless it complies with the provisions laid down by the Ministry of War and a specimen has been approved by the Ministry. 2. Gas masks must bear the name of the maker.

3. A guarantee must be given to the buyer that the mask conforms to the specimen approved by the Ministry, and that the maker will replace any part of the apparatus which becomes defective within the period for which the mask is guaranteed. Instructions for use and for keeping the mask in good condition must be provided. 4. Private owners of gas masks may have them tested at any time at the municipal laboratory on the payment of a fee.

5. Inspectors are authorised to test gas masks on sale in order to prevent any possibility of fraud. While to some extent the purpose of those regulations is to protect the French public from exploitation and imposition, the real object is to make the civilian population conscious of its peril in any future war and familiar with certain simple safeguards. The French are practical people, after all, who do not believe for a in the “ wait and see ” policy to which the Britsh are, unfortunately, addicted. That the Government at Westminster is now ready to depart from that policy is welcome news even if to some alarmists it, seems tragically significant.