The New York herald., 1921-12-18

IN kus CUOhtu tTchCuccs Wo hOoAheN
fIla. they had left hundreds OF dead
aud dying companions. 1t was tho
most fiendIsh, wicked thing I have
ever scer.'
The effect of poison gas upon the
human system thus is described by
the Rev. o. S. Watkins, writing In
the Methodist Recorder of London.
DR.. Watkins was an eyewitness OF
tie first gas attack launched in the
world war. 1t occurred April 22,
1915, at Ypres. The gas used was
chlorine. Compared with the devel-
opment OF poison warfare later in the
great conflict the German CT attack
at Ypres was crude.
At the time of the armistice the
United States was shipping to Eu-
rope for use in the great war SO
tons OF gas day. Development OF
chemical warfare and poison gas by
the American army chemists has
progressed to degree in which the
first German gas warfare seems mild.
Imagine, il it is possible, poison
gas battle in which the effects upon
the soldiers of the enemy are 1000
times as intense as were the effects
of the German chlorine gas upon the
Allies at Ypres. Then you will have
a picture Of the gas warfare of the
future.
This is the conclusion OF Carmi
Thompson, member Of the American
advisory committee to the American
delegation in the Conference on the
Limitation of Armament, Pacific
and Far Eastern Questions.
urge Move Against Poison Gas.
Mr. Thompson is chairman of the
advisory subcommittee on new inn
plements of warfare which recently
laid before the whole committee a re-
port recommending that the United
States propose to the conference an
international agreement abolishing for
all time the use of chemicals and poi
son gas in modern warfare. This re-
port was approved by the advisory
committee and forwarded to the
American delegates. who are expected
10 lay the matter before the confer
cnce.
Mr. Thompson's committee, which
included Gen. Pershing studied poison
gas for two weeks before making its
recommendation. The vote for abo-
lition of the use of poison gas in the
subcommittee was unanimous, accord
ing to Mr.. Thompson. In addition to
Mr. Thompson and Gen. Pershing, the
members of the subcommittee are Ad-
miral Rodgers, John l.. Lewis, presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers of
America Mrs. Katherine Edison. Gov.
John NJ. Parker of Louisiana and AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy Roose-
welt.
"Unless the use of poison gas is
outlawed in modern warfare" said Mr..
Thompson, sit will destroy civiliza-
ton. No other conclusion is possible.
our committee approached the prob
lem with an open mind. We had
available a great deal of the informa-
zion in possession of the army. Ex-
perts of the armys gas corps were
at our service. We learned every
thing that it was possible to learn
about gas warfare in reasonable pc
riod OF study.
THE officers Of the army gas corps
are enthusiastic for their weapon.
This is as IL should be. They have
been assigned to the task of develop
ing IL. And, on that score, they are
sol.
to magnify a thousand times the or
dinary horrors of war with poison.
Gns Leads War Inventions.
Development OF poison gas warfare
probably has proceeded further in the
United States than in any other coun-
try. In the event OF war poison gas
could be mado In the United States in
larger quantities than in all the other
countries vrs together At The time
OF the ermistice this feat, I believe,
was actually being performed
"To the subcommittee ii seemed at
first a pity voluntarily to discard and
asS the world to follow our example
IN discarding weapon in which this
ration was so we'll equipped
I'VE .ried to determine whether the
question could be compromised We
thought that perhaps the use OF gas
could be restricted so thnt It would
not be dropped on cities by airplancs.
killing thousands of noncomba;ante
I'VE soon found, however, that the
question of the use Of poison gas can
not be compromised. It's use cannot
he restricted. The only thing 20 do is
10 outlaw gas completely. The mill
tary men OH our subcommittee voted
ior abolition unanlnousiy. and Il viii
stand to their credit
"Unioss poison gae ashting is
checked W. vi'i become 30 hssaible
hat oonfi,ct viii rave no victor and