The Washington herald., 1918-02-28
HUN SUGGESTS
NO MORE GAS
Excelled With His Own
Weapon the Reason,
Says Holland.

Reports have been In circulation for
some days that Germany has made
tentative suggestions by way OF
Geneva, Switzerland, and through the
medium OF the Red Cross organiza-
ton. that all OF the belligerents agree
70 abandon the use OF poison gases
during battle. Although no authort-
tative announcement has been made
r1Epecting this alleged suggestion
|reasons for suspecting that II may not
Be without foundation.
Curiously enough this report Is coin
cident IN point OF time with the de-
Velcpment Of certain facts heretofore
unknown by the public respecting tho
Manufacture and use Of poison gas
by the allies. of which Germany re-
Gently obtained information. A day
or two ago, French military officer
who has seen continuous service at
Yerdun and who has been decorated
for conspicuous bravery, reached the
United States. having been sent by
the French government to negotiate
for the purchase OF a vast amount Of
certain%munitions OF war. The visit
OF this officer Is to be brief. for he
viii return to France unless other
wise ordered by his government, not
later than March. It may be that
in a few weeks 1t will be possible to
make publication OF the purchases of
certain munitions. vast in amount
which In the name OF France this
officer has made in the United States.
Yesterday while speaking Of mill
lary movements along the YER
dun front-which. according to au-
thorities. can never be broken
through by the Germans-he referred
10 the capacity Of France and
Great Britain to manufacture polls
on gas In amounts vastly exceeding
the ability of the Germans to man
hIacture it. He also mentioned that
the United States was now prepar-
tng for the manufacture of appa-
ratus which, when completed. as it
viii be in few months. will add
xreatly to the resources OF the al
les SO far as the manufacture and
utilization Of poison gas are con-
terned.
Is This Germany's ReasOnf
That the German military author
tiles know that by midsummer the
allies will be abundantly and stead
fiy supplied with poison gas is un-
questioned. Therefore, the suspic-
ion Inevitably arises that, assuming
the ATTITUDE of philanthropy. a sort
Of Red Cross attitude. the Germans
are ready to make agreement that
their armies will abandon the use
Of poison gas, il also the allies will
make a like agreement.
I But the allies will not abandon
the employment Of poison gas Ger
many set the example in the battle
OF Ypres. The chemists Of Great
Britain. France and the United
States have matched and over
matched the German chemists in
gas manufacture and men of inven-
tive genius in Great Britain and
France, and recently in the United
States. have perfected gas-proof
masks which seem to be beyond
the capacity OF Germany to produce.
speedIas Up Gas Production.
That the United States intends fully
to match. IL not to surpass, the ca
pacity OF Great Britain and France
an the manufacture Of poison gas has
been made evident by negotiations
which have been carried on recently
by the government. -g
In the first place, there is a certain
factor or apparatus essential to the
OF the War Department were in nego-
tiation a few weeks ago with the
manufacturers OF this apparatus,
whose plants are located at Niagara
Falls The governments representa-
= lives said that there was immediate
need OF some 100000 pounds Of this
apparatus. They were told that so
great an amount as this could not be
manufactured within the time set by
the government unless certain restric-
lions upon the use OF electric power
At Niagara Falls were removed.
Within week these restrictions were
removed.
Furthermore, the government au-
thorities were told that in order to
Inanufacture this apparatus, it was
necessary speedily to obtain a guam
tfty OF a certain commodity which
could not be had unless the govern
anent gave priority orders to the man
ayers OF q great manufacturing plant,
whereby these managers would be
able to turn out at an early day the
needed quantity. This priority order
was at once given.
Soon at Baltimore there will be
IN operation a great plant for the
manufaeture Of apparatus by means
- NASh CnAONAhc BdS Is easily ana
at small cost made. The immense
quantity Of this apparatus demon
strates that our government expects
70 supply our soldiers in France and
Flanders with the necessary mechan-
Ism to produce quickly almost un-
limited supplies OF chlorine.
The inference Is that our own gov
eminent, In cooperation with Great
Britain and France. expects soon to
supply the allied armies with almost
inezhaustible quantities Of chlorine.
The presumption is. therefore, that
this weapon, first introduced by the
Germans, win be relied upon to no
small extent for gaining victories
over the German armies during the
spring and summer.
No attention will be paid to any
hint that comes from Germany
through Geneva, or in any way, that
Germany is willing to abandon the
use OF poison gas provided the allies
viii also agree no longer tn tIsa N