The Penn's Grove record., 1921-04-01
SAYS GERMANY MUST DISARM
CHEMICALLY
Peace For The World Can Be Assured
Only In This Way, Says
Professor Bogert

Of chemicals for war purposes, de-
DR.. Marston T. Bogert, senior
professor of the chemical department
of Columbia University, in an address
before the Delaware Section of the
American Chemical Society, at Trim
ity parish house, Wilmington, Del.
His subject was, Science and Dis
armament" and the address was
heard by a large number of chemists
of DUPONT Company.
In chemical matters, said Prof.
Bogert, disarmament both for Ger
many and the Allies must provide for
the definite reduction and control Of
the coal supply, Of the fxation Of at
mospheric nitrogen, which is the
mother substance of all explosives,
and also the reduction of sources of
all poison gases and the actual manu-
facture of most of the explosives used
in the a
Exports of all such substances"
continued DR.. Bogert, SHOULD be are
fully regulated, for export trade in
the familiar excuse for the mainten-
ance and expansion of colossal plants
of latent war possibilities. The same
IOllllllISolOA llilSllN OO 8
very keen for the dismantling of
the Krupp establishment at Essen, and
yet not bat ar eye over the continu-
ance and expansion of mammonth ar
s%enals, camoufaged as dye factories
or agricultural chemical works, altho
the actual military damage inflicted
upon Germany might be much greater
were the dry nitrogen factories de-
stroyed than if the Essen plant were
razed.
For example" asserted Dr.. Bogert,
eff the Allies fail to reduce directly
the present German supremacy in
synthetic dye and nitrogen fXation
plants there will be no safety for this
Of ofG those vital vital i inc ltr Fore superior
to that of Germany"
The Columbia scientist took eXcep-
ton to the view Of General March,
Chief of Staff of the United States
Army, whcs in opposing the extension
Of the Chemical Warfare Services
said that he would keep those sub
stances used in the manufacture Of
poison gas from being imported into
Germany, and thus keep down the
poison gas output. The speaker said
that froIa such simple substances as
salt, coke or charcoal and air could be
manufactured phosgene and chlorine.
"All that is necessary, therefore,
observed DR.. Bogert, ironically, rs
to remove from Germany all the salt
under ground, or close the salt mines,
and to exclude Germany from access
to the ocean; to place a similar a
upon the sulphur mines and the smelt-
ing of sulphur ores; to interdict the
raising of sugar beets and other sac
chariferous crops, and to cut down all
the forests-since cellulose, which IS
obtained from these sources, a be
converted into alcohol. As all modern
warfare depends upon nitric acid and
as nitric acid is now being made from
the nitrogen of the air, it is equally
clear that this manufacture a be
easily and completely stopped by eX-
Guiding the atmospheric also from
Germany. Except for these slight OBJ
jections, the plan is doubtless an ad-
mirable one"
DR.. Bogert declared that in order to
cope successfully with a nation having
such skill in chemistry as has Ger
many, it would be necessary to have
in this country a well-developed chem
ical warfare service. The speaker was
of the opinion that chemical warfare
was yet in its infancy, and that after
it had run its course the military art
might also invoke medical and biologi-
cal warfare, which could be done by
the dissemination of germs and dis
ease. He therefore maintained that
the military efficiency of the future
would depend in large measure upon
science.
"Most fundamental of all, however,,
he concluded, " for all else rests upon
it, is an intelligent grasp by u peo-
pie and government of what is an I'M
mensely powerful factor. That is, the
scientific development which makes
for the progress of civilization and
upon which, to a vast extent, the
safety of the country is dependent.
Without such a general understanding,
it will be difficult OF impossible to
awaken our fellow-countrymen to the
menace of our unpreparedness in such
matters, so as to eel h a ! d
spread education and individual pro-
~iciencv in science which is u safe
guard. with II lnere Will ne HO ulIIA
Guilty whatsoever in getting Congress
to enact such legislation as will foster
and stimulate not only our synthetic
dye and nitrogen industries, but also
our chemical warfare and air service.
Such action will have an immediate
and far reaching beneficial effect up
on the entire course of u develop
ment in science, at a time when the
world is looking to US for a lead in
such matters"
DR.. Bogert also dwelt at length up
on the personal factors in the promo
ton of efficiency in war.