ASPHYXIATING GASES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 17

ASPHYXIATING GASES.

POISON SHELLS. LONDON, June 14.. The Times correspondent at Washington says: “It seems that the Germans are contemplating the systematic use of poisoned shells. An extraordinary advertisement has been published by an American munitions firm, puffing a peculiar type of poison shell. The inference is that Germany will accede to the Allies using them, preparatory to her own employment of them.” ~~ A Canadian writes that when his company captured enemy trencnes they found eight reservoirs of poison gas marked 1914, and respirators marked 1911. A CHEMIST’S PROPHECY. SYDNEY, June 15. Mr Fred Wright, chemistry expert in the firm of Elliott Brothers, predicts that the use of poisonous gases in warfare will be abandoned, as the power of counterattack, either by heavy explosions or by neutralising chemicals, will render them abortive. He also pointed out L xat they were successful only when employed from an eminence. EDISON’S VIEW. NEW YORK, June 14. Mr Edison, interviewed, expressed the view that the boundless possibilities of science as applied to warfare were far from being exhausted. Chemistry and electricity had hardly been touched. He would apply himself to the problem if his country were attacked, but he could see no necessity for the United States to enter the war. They should endeavour to keep it the only bright spot on earth. The idea that they were armed for a conflict with Germany and the possibility of diplomatic relations being severed had presented itself to him, but he could not conceive the United States sending untrained troops to the battlefields of Europe. “ Surely,” he added, “ with submarines and poisonous gases, war is sufficiently horrible without my devising new instruments.” GERMANY CONFIDENT LONDON, June 14. The Times publishes a further article by a neutral observer, who says: “The result of a further visit to Germany supplements the impressions I formed in February—viz., it is no longer ‘We shall win,’ but ‘ We cannot lose,’ with the Germans. But there is a grim resolve that all must strain every nerve and every ounce of energy, resource, and intelligence to establish the desired result. Finding that there is no enemy on their soil and that the boundaries of their country have been pushed beyond their former limits, the Germans claim that up to the present they have won the war. Yet there is no slackening of effort. Daily it becomes more apparent that Germany’s resources in men and material are more vast than even the Germans themselves realised. Unless overwhelmed by main force they may resist indefinitely. “The Germans are unbroken in strength and spirit, but their complete isolation is affecting the character of the people in two distinct and opposite ways—first, a national spirit, called imperial consciousness, is becoming apparent; next is an embittered morbidity and brutal vindictiveness, warping the judgment, biasing the opinions, and unhinging their ethical and moral senses “ The majority of the people regard the use of poisonous gas as a splendid triumph of German genius. A chemical expert stated that gas is the coming weapon in German warfare, and though still in a primitive state of development, it is certain to supplant high explosives. The phenomenal successes in Galicia and elsewhere are due to its use, and a few tanks of gas do more work than a thousand shells. The only bar to its complete success was finding a suitable system of distribution. “Throughout Germany there are no shirkers; every man, woman, and child is contributing to the nation’s effort. Though many are beginning to realise that the struggle will not bring any ultimate good to Germany, the majority of the people believe in the righteousness of their cause and its final success.”