POISON GAS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 5

POISON GAS

' SMELLING SAMPLES" ARRIVAL IN AUSTRALIA AIR RAID EQUIPMENT SYDNEY. Jan. 27. Large tubes of all known poison gases used in warfare arrived in tne Oronsay from London. They are a Home Office i?et of '•smelling samples,” ano. Ihe first to come to Australia, according to Defence authorities. The gases were brought by Mr. E. E. Potter, of Banksia. who became an air raid warden during a thiecyear visit to England. Mr. Potter ha. offered his services, gases and air raid equipment to the Premier (Mr. Stevens >. Major McCall, liaison officer between the Defence Department and State Government air raid work, said the gases and equipment would be oi great assistance. Deadly “Geranium.” Fifteen sets similar to that brought back by Mr Potter were expected from London, but had not arrived yet, he said. "Smell that,” said Mr. Potter, thrusting a tube under a Daily Telegraph man’s nose. That’s geranium It s smell is like a geranium plant. ’But if this spla=ned over anyone their skin would erupt in a horrible and painful way.” In England Mr. Potter instructed thousands in gas de-contamination, including 500 in one factory. “England is al! prepared to live underground during a war. Every park and open space has concrete trenches and tunnels,’’ he added. Latest A.R.P. equipment brought here by Mr. Potter includes: Sound records of signals and effects of a raid; a sectioned 211 b incendiary bomb, and new type gas masks cairied like ? camera.