The New York herald., 1921-09-13
WAR PREP AREDNESS
URGED ON chemists
Exhibit in Bronx Armory
Opens to Big Thr0ng
From Many Lands.
STRESS DYE EMBARGO
America Should Maintain
Plants and Experts,
Says Lenr0ot.
u. S. HAS BEST GAS MASKS
Activity Of Warfare Service
Since Armistice Told by
Brig. g.-Gen. Fries.
.f +
STRESS DYE EMBARGO
q. S. HAS BEST GAS MASKS

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The Seventh National Exposition
Of Chemical Industries opened yester-
day afternoon in the .arnory OF the
Eighth Coast Artillery, jerome avenue
and Kngsbridge road, The Bronx.
with 400 exhibits, the largest number
and the most extensive variety ever
shown. The number OF visiting for
eisn chemists registered last night in
cluded $50 from England, ESQ from
various countries in South America
and fifteen from Japan, besides nearly
1900 Canadians.
The underlying idea of the exposi-
tion is for development and encourage
ment OF chemical science in industry
and in the arts Of peace. But pos
sibly through the presence Of Brig
Gen. Amos A. Fries, Chief OF the
Chemical Warfare Service, who was
one OF the principal speakers. and
through remarks by Senator Irvine L.
Lenroot Of Wisconsin, another speaker.
the affair created the impression also
Of preparedness stimulant in the
newest branch of war science.
Prominent British chemists. headed by
Sir William J. Pope. and who attended
the joint meeting of the British and
American Chemical societies last week.
were among the interested spectators.
For these and delegates from Chile. Bra
zfl, Argentina, Peru and Uruguay. as
well as American chemists. the exhibits
showing the processes of manufacture
OF analine dyes and the relationship OF
the dye industry to the country's indus
try. seemed to attract most attention.
Wants No Limit ON Brains.
Senator Lcnroot. at the night session,
said that while he was hopeful of re-
suits from the armament conference in
November, he saw no prospect OF put
ting any sort Of limitation on the invcn-
tive genius of any nation. Such being
the case. he asserted. II behooved Amer
lea TO achieve the last degree OF pre-
pareflness in chemical warfare. He ad-
vocated the establishment OF a reserve
Of cherists and plants that could readily
be converted to tho manufacture of ex-
plosives and gases.
He said:
LET the nations of the world know
that although without even a large
navy or arn,ys while our energies are
being cxern.d along the paths Of peace.
nevertheless we are possessed OF the last
word In science and invention and are
ready to use it-that we have the skill
and material to defend ourselves. Then
never again shall any nation look on us
with contempt and mock our ability to
make war.
Let us agree tc sink our battleships.
melt our cannon. destroy our fortifica-
tions. II other nations will do likewise
But let US encourage rather than destroy
progress in discovery and invention
making for the happiness and welfare OF
our people in time Of peace. and for
their defence In time OF wa-."
Senator Lenroot expressed his own at
tttude as a legislator on the pending pro-
posal for an embargo on German dyes
until the industry in America had been
developed. On this point he said:
IF the dyes used in America are
made in America weswill have the chem
lists and we will have the PLANTS that
will make America so strong in defen-
sive warfare that none will dare to at
II ever attacked again 1t is not likely
that we shall be In such favorable sit
uation as we were IN the last war. For
two and a half years we had been MAX
ing explosives for the Allies. Our chem
lists were employed in the development
OF high explosives before we declared
war at all. We had two and a half
years to prepare before we did go In.
and I shall not dwell on how poorly
we were prepared when We did go In.
Let us hope that the conference In
November will mark the beginning Of
the end Of large navies and huge armies.
but let us not be ldiotic enough to enter
Into any agreement that the scientists of
the nation shall not employ their brains
In research and development that win
assist In defending our nation should
any dare aiteck us"
America Ha~ Bcst Gas Mask.
Brig. Gen. Fries stressed the import
srce Of Senator Lenroots suggestion for
n capable reserve OF chemists as factor
In national defence and told OF the de-
velopment of this branch OF the military
service since the arnistice.
Many. suggestions and IDEAS taken
from the enemy in the early days OF the
war. said Gen. Fries have been devel-
oped and enlarged TO n surprising de-
gree. Taking the gas mask az an ex-
ample. he said America had not been so
well equipped as either France or Great
Britain when she entered the war, but
since the armistice the American Chemi-
cal Warfare Service has taken tho best
IDEAS OF both the British and French
masks until now she has one better than
either
DR.. Charles IT, Harty editor OF the
youruol Of Industrial and Engineering
chemistry also spoke. Motion pictures
showing iron mining operations and
The Story Of Abrssives." supplied by
the United States Bureau OF Mines and
the Carborundum Company were shown.
To-day's programme will deal princi-
pslly with the application OF chemistry
to Industrial problems. The exposition
will be open daily for the remainder Of
the week from noon fill IN u AZ