CHEMICAL WARFARE:

Gun Flash, Issue VIII, 15 February 1943, Page 2

CHEMICAL WARFARE:

Gas in, perhaps, the only weapon wlliok is Jits'. u.Ga armour, .pai’Cdo::!* • cal aa 'thia otatenont ;just sound, its reasonableness becomes apparent when it ;« considered that fear of reprisal wakes either aldo loath to as tig-. chemical warfare. The t-pos of yeses practical in modern warfare pro so limited that, ’ with the exception of Arseno and DIG j which are only combionc t f the then-known gases, no nor; guo has been cl ovisac since 1913. jew methods of diffusion and protection have certainly ’coon developed, but they arc also common knowledge• Suitable co it ion such as weather, tppography, and the Important element of surprise, are ro seldom encountered truxt th weapon’ s use Is very circur. scribed as a consequence.

In spite of these disadvantages yas is such a id able weapon that | its possibilities cannot be ignored, Sprung as a surprise on untrained ’creeps, end the casualties and sub* •sequent loss of idiocy might well turn ths tide of a decisive tattle* Evon against trained troops and not as a surprise, th© fire power of tho Unit may, or rather would, bo decrea« ed b;* ce Tiaat ar ,4s a denying

: faster, blicr jr •.,-c laid bmhlr.retreating.... troops 'would seriously.. ; r.andleap the pursuers.; i It is, en, fox’ these . reasons. that millions are spent by the great Ifiatbuns on chemical warfaro and its ran if Ac at ions. ’ At the present 'tinoy the position is one of a ntr.lwr.ri.to ; >. neither ©ide is willing to make the awful - • ouaiflioh-,which will let loose on ■ ■ humanity one of the most horrible, ; ’roans bi destruction. It is cons id- | area that the Japanese, with their » national attitude. z of disregard - for i either ethics or humanity, nay be .?. .• the oi\js wlio do so. Hence it. is bl particular importance to the /ailed. Troops in the pacific war. sone; to be prepared hi thus protected.