GAS RAID PROTECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19815, 20 February 1936, Page 4

GAS RAID PROTECTION.

CIVILIANS IN BRITAIN. Anti-gas containers for babies, into which the mothers will pump filtered air, and gas-proof tents for perambulators—these are two of the latest devices to protect civilians in Bfitain in the hext war, when gas attacks will imperil combatants and non-comba-tants alike. Free gas masks for all are to be provided by the Government, except perhaps in very remote country areas. An efficient respirator can be produced for 2s. While the authorities think small children could wear these masks, they fear that it will be impossible to persuade women to fit them on babies—hence the container device. The masks will be stored in depots, as they might be damaged if kept in the home. In an emergency they would be distributed within a few hours. Meanwhile it is proposed that people should be allowed to try on masks at their local depot so as to ensure a proper fit. There will be about five sizes. Preparations are being made to manufacture over 30,000,000 masks for adults and about 3,000,000 antigas containers for infants.. The experts in charge have told the Government that voluntary effort is not enough and that equipment will have to be paid for from public funds. Secret experiments have been made to find the best container in which a child can be enclosed completely. Large packing cases of the kind used by tobacco manufacturers for supplying wholesalers have been used for testing purposes. The container is lilted with a hand pump which is connected with a filter inside. Gas-laden air will be purified by trie filter and a fresh supply pumped to the child. It is believed that it will be possible lo manufacture a gas-proof container, pump aud all foi halt-a-crovvn. Other tests have shown that efficient tenls for perambulators can be made. It is proposed to complete this civilian defence scheme in not mnm than three years.