GAS ATTACKS

Southland Times, Issue 22510, 19 February 1935, Page 7

GAS ATTACKS

PLANS FOR PROTECTION

IMPERIAL DEFENCE COMMITTEE

BOOK OF INSTRUCTIONS

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph (Rec. 11.10 p.m.) London, February 18. The News-Chronicle says that the Committee of Imperial Defence will shortly be issuing to local authorities throughout Britain complete plans for the protection of the population in case of gas attacks. Seven years’ investigation by an anti-gas sub-committee, on which there are leading scientists and military experts, resulted in the drawing up of a book of instructions of several hundred pages. The population will not be equipped was ghs masks as experiments in the gas proofing of houses has shown that one room can be made gas proof by the comparatively simple process of chemically saturating curtains over doors and windows. It is also not considered necessary to build vast dug-outs like Germany, where one dug-out shelters 45,000 people. The instructions provide that each local authority will be responsible for its own district and will form an antigas committee and enrol all municipal workers, doctors, firemen and policemen. The instructions also provide for the following:— A system of alarms to warn the public of an impending attack. The speedy location of an attack > and isolation of the affected area. Protection of water and food supplies. Storage and protection of anti-gas substances. The establishment of decontamination centres. A training school for children and organization of special ambulance transport services.