POISON GAS

Southland Times, Issue 20537, 13 July 1928, Page 7

POISON GAS

USE FOR WARFARE lethal qualities of new CHEMICAL devastating effect of SINGLE BOMB (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 8.15 p.m.) London, July 12. In the House of Lords Baron Danesfort, drawing attention to the recent explosion of phosgene gas at Hamburg inquired if effective schemes had been worked out for repelling large scale air raids accompanied by gas bombs. The Earl of Halsbury said the accident at Hamburg showed that it would need 2000 tons of phosgene to produce a lethal atmosphere over the whole of London, yet phosgene for war purposes was as out of date as a blunderbus. There was a new gas so deadly that one part in 10,000,000 parts of air would incapacitate human beings within a minute. A bomb containing the new gas dropped on Piccadilly Circus would kill every man, woman and child from Regent’s Park to the Thames. These statements were based on a War Office rnanuel on chemical warfare. It only cost ninepence, but it should be given away. If every adult in Britain read it there would be such a wave of indignation and righteous horror that the people would do anything to make some agreement to put these things under international control and prevent their use in warfare. They could not prevent foreign Governments making gas as the process was simple. Buildings might be made gas-proof, giving some breathing space and allowing the gas to disperse. Electricity and other means might be found to disperse the gas by suction through sewers. The Marquis of Salisbury said there was no need for panic. The Earl of Halsbury ought to have reflected before nlaking such a speech, which was bound to have the gravest effect outside. The last word had not been said in defence of gas. There might be many methods of mitigating an attack with which it would be indiscreet to deal. The circumstances of the phosgene in Hamburg were at present the subject of diplomatic correspondence. The Allies had no longer powers of examination or control in the manufacture of poison gas in Germany as the disarmament clauses in the Marseilles Treaty were passed by the League of Nations in 1927. The Air Ministry and War Office were constantly paying attention to defence against air raids. The debate has ended.—Australian Press Association—United Service.