GERM WARFARE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26043, 5 January 1946, Page 6

GERM WARFARE

NAZI PLANS REVEALED ALLIED DEFENCE MEASURES WASHINGTON, Jan. 3. Information that enemy scientists were secretly mobilising disease germs for use in warfare prompted the development of defence measures which could, if necessary, be used as offensive weapon^. This is disclosed in a report to the War Department by the War Research Service, a civilian agency studying biological warfare. President Roosevelt established the agency in 1942 after a special National Academy of Science Committee reported that biological warfare was distinctly feasible. Britain, America, and Canada co-operated in the research, which was conducted as secretly as- the development of the atomic bomb. The report said that the main objective—the devising of defences against a surprise attack—was attained by research, which also resulted m much information of great and lasting value for human welfare. The report listed the discoveries in general terms, but for security reasons did not reveal the specific diseases to man, animals, and plants which were intensively studied and the countermeasures involved. It is expected that some of the discoveries will be revealed in scientific papers. The scientists worked out methods for the mass production of microorganisms and tneir products. It was, however, directed that the biological warfare agents should not be produced in quantity without the specific approval of the Secretary for War; and, in fact, no large stocks were ever accumulated. The defence measures included the, study of germs in which the enemy was known to be interested, and also measures to protect supplies of water, milk, and food in the United States, Hawaii, and the Caribbean area, Panama, and eventually all overseas theatres. The scientists developed rapid ways of detecting minute quantities of dis-ease-producing agents should the enemy have used them. The Office of Strategic Service informed the joint Chiefs of Staff in December, 1943, that the Germans might be 'planning to employ germ warfare, whereupon Allied research work was intensified. All the evidence to date, however, indicated that the Axis lagged behind the Allies.

The extreme care taken to protect the personnel from infection resulted in the development of many new and highly successful techniques. Consequently, there were only 60 cases of proved infection from accidental exposure to virulent biological warfare agents. Fifty-two of these completely recovered and the remainder are recovering. The report warned that, unlike atomic bombs and other secret weapons, micro-organisms could be developed in many countries, large and small,. without nuge production facilities, and perhaps under the guise of legitimate medical and bacteriological research.

The War Department attached a note to the report stating that information from Japan since its occupation showed that the Japanese made definite progress in biological warfare studies between 1936 and late in 1945. They were, however, never in a position to use the weapon.