THE NEXT WAR

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1929, Page 6

THE NEXT WAR

CIVILIANS’ PERIL,

HORRORS OF AERIAL GAS ATTACKS

Wholesale destruction of cities, terrorisation of civilian populations, and the loss of millions of lives within a few hours after an aerial attack on such centres as Paris or London—these possibilities of the next world war are described in pamphlet form by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, under the title of “Chemical Warfare—lts Possibilities and Probabilities,” by Mrs. Elvira K. Fradkin, of Montclair, New Jersey, who has macle a study of the problem of chemical warfare. The pamphlet deals chiefly with the dangers threatening civilians, and pleads for adequate protection for non-com-batants in the next war: — “Whether we like it or not the new. far-cruising airplane, with its crew of six, and its mountings for ten machineguns, carrying a bomb load of 90001 b. will bring death and destruction to a wider area, and, amid tho roar of antiaircraft guns, will not be abli to choose military object 'Sblely as targets.* A whole city will be the target, and with the combination of high explosive and lingering poison gas that target can, and will be obliterated. When it is realised, further, that in the future, all shells from the 75mm. (18-pounder) U P carry some form of poison gas, our interest widens and deepens.” GREATEST MENACE. The author believe that the greatest menace of the next war will be the use of liquid mustard. “There is no practical protection against the spraying of liquid mi ata rd at present. Liquid mustard penetrates all clothing, rubber, and Jearher, and burns all skin with which it comes into contact. Its vapour is more poisonous than hydrocyanic acid; it will persist on the ground, grass, and underbrush for several weeks. Hostile airplanes equipped with mustard tanks and flying low can release the liquid mustard on their target—so infecting large areas within a few seconds, and covering them so effectively that practically every man and animal within tho area would be n certain casualty.” The picture of the devastation which can be caused by airplanes travelling at anything from 200 to 250 miles an hour is not a pleasant one. A multitude of poison gases were used in the last war, but these, according to the author, “will be a child’s game compared with the gases used in the future.” The great danger to civilians from poison gas in the next war is emphasised by the statement that the International Red Cross will open an international competition with a prize for a design of. the most effective type of gas-proof shelter. The recommendations of the Red Cross contain suggested instructions for the types of shelters to be built, which arc to take the form of subterranean chambers hermetically sealed and provided with chemically producing oxygen. These would have to be built in largo numbers and of great size; they, would contain stocks of chemicals for neutralising the atmosphere and would be liberally stocked with food., water,, and hospital applianeca. ■ ■ ■ • ’