NAZIS MAY USE GAS

Southland Times, Issue 24885, 27 October 1942, Page 4

NAZIS MAY USE GAS

PROFESSOR HALDANE’S WARNING (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 25. Big gas attacks against Britain were forecast by Professor J. B. S. Haldane in an address to civil defence workers. Professor Haldane is chairman of the National A.R.P. Co-ordinating Committee. He said the committee had received requests for information from the Dominions and also hoped to pass on the lessons learned to Russia, which was ahead of Britain in seeing that everyone was exactly instructed on what to do in the event of an air-raid. “Hitler doubtless has large reserves of poison gas in liquid form and probably materials for poisonous smokes and he will presumably use them,” he said. “The most probable target is Britain. The first gas attack will be a big one., probably against London, Birmingham or any other large city, and possibly against the invasion ports when the second front is opened. An attack with persistent gas will probably be made early on a winter night, so the contaminated areas cannot be fully evacuated before the morning. “The public in large towns should, therefore, carry respirators throughout the winter if they have to be in the streets during darkness. The public should ensure that a practically gasproof room is available for refuge casualties. The first gas attack might be heavier than any raid so far if precautions are neglected.”