LONDON'S AIR PERIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16113, 30 April 1923, Page 8

LONDON'S AIR PERIL.

POSSIBILITIES IN WAR

GAS-FLOODED STREETS: A GERM BOMBARDMENT. „ LONDON, -April'&—"l -am sure* the public does not realise the full menace of the air forces of an enemy compared with his land and sea forces," writes Lord Montagu of Beaulieu in the Observer. Instancing London's wide danger radius, he points out that raids by fully-, loaded airplanes were possible from Germany. If airships were used in the attack they could come from Russia. "Meteorological conditions in the North Sea were most favorable during several, months of the year, owing .to low visibility, while the likelihood of a surprise attack was increased owing; to, the attackers not passing land after, leaving Denmark. ■ -. "The dangers were better realised in France, which is the true reason- for the. French increasing the number and efficiency of their air force. "Air warfare will increase in dreadfullness owing ( to the use of highly-com-pressed gas contained in bombs, which, if exploded in London at night, would fill the streets, leaking into every crevice. The gas would asphyxiate the people in their beds before the morning wind or any other agency '" drove, it away. .■■;.),■ {£'•• "Worse still is the possibility of,.tho. use of millions of germs for poisoning water and for spreading disease and death." Referring to the failure of the Hague Convention in 1914, Lord Montagu ridicules the suggestion that such bombs would be forbidden under the League of Nations air convention. It was not likely that Russia and Germany would bind themselves to any limitation in the means of making war which would provide the most effective method of reaching or compelling a distant antagonist to fight a losing battle or surrender. . . ..,,- ~ ..