TERRORS OF WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1933, Page 2

TERRORS OF WAR

TERRIBLE PREDICTIONS MADE.

CHEMICAL BARBARITY.

LONDON, February 14

“The most terrible book ever written,” is the description applied to 18 articles by military, scientific a,ncl economic experts, for the information of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, on the character of the next war, during which, it is declared, it will be safer at the front than at horn*.

Experts believe that immediately on the outbreak of fighting unprecedented barbarity will begin on land and sea and in the air. International law will be completely disregarded and civilian populations murdered in the mass. In addition to familiar predictions of air raids and gas bombardments killing millions in a few hours, writers "forecast raids during which will be dropped electric incendiary bombs Hilled with thermite, developing a heat of 3000 degrees and eating through every obstacle,

setting fire to gas mains, and causing flames for which extinguishing appliances have not yet been discovered. Water will only increase the a'ncendiary effect.

Field-Marshall von Ludendorf reveals

that preparations were afoot in 1918 to set fire to London and Paris with air*- bombs- 'filled' with' magnesium' and ferric oxide.

Fuller, one of tjhe British officers during the Great War, recalls that during the recent air manoeuvres only 16 out of 2o() raiders on London at night were sighted, He envisages enormous raids by unmanned torpedo planes directed from aeroplanes at invisible altitudes and adds that civilians would only be safe in huge .subterranean fortresses which would be too expensive to construct. He adds as a grim commentary on the fact that the world is struggling to pay war debts, that the British alone fired shells costing £22,000,000 during the preliminary bombardment at the third battle of Ypres. Francis Delaisi, a French expert, declares that the nation with a powerful chemistry industry requires no other war material. Other writers believe that disease germs will be spreau and reservoirs poisoned.