Poison Gas Drill

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 3

Poison Gas Drill

HOME INSTRUCTION PLAN. DETECTORS IN STREETS. LONDON, Jan. 13. Every responsible person in Britain is to be shown, in his own house, how to use a gas mask. The air raids precautions committee of the Home Office has come to the conclusion that it is useless to expect members of the public voluntarily to visits depots to learn how to adjust and wear a mask. Therefore, depot staffs will visit every house and give a demonstration. Visits will begin as soon as the depots have been set up. Plans for distributing 30,000,000 respirators arc now alqiost complete. The Blackburn factory is in production and will shortly send out 500,000 masks a week. These will be sent first to 12 main depots, placed at strategic points. From these they will bo distributed to thousands of sub-depots, which will serve the public. Tho main depots will “service" each year 10 per cent, of the masks to ensure that all remain in good condition. An elaborate scheme for gas detectors in every street is also being completed. Detectors will consist of pieces of wood dressed with a yellow paint. This will turn red when it comes into contact with the liquid from which mustard gas and similar gas vaporises. These ghscs are either sprayed by raiding aeroplanes or are contained, under pressure, in bombs and cover a wide area when the bombs burst. Particular attention is being given to mustard and lewisite gas because they soak into the ground or woodwork and remain active for a long time. They give off dangerous gas when heated by the sun. Physical contact with them means a severe burn. The detectors will provide a permanent safeguard, for the warning red will always indicate their presence. Members of the ga-s detector squads now being formed throughout tho country will wear badges dressed with the paint, which will assist them to confirm the presence of the liquids. A stock of the paint is now being accumulated by the Government.