The New York herald., 1922-08-06
FRENCH EXPERIMENT.
With GUN DESIGNED
TO SHOOT 50 MILES
Want to Beat Germans at
Their Own Game in
Next Conflict.
COST is CHIEF PROBLEM
Safety for Aviators and Gas
Other Issues Receiving
Much Attention.
COST Is CHIEF PROBLEM

Special Gable 70 THE NEW YORK HERALD
Copyright 1929, 5v THE NEW YORK HEsALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris. Aug. 5.
Notwithstanding the existence OF
the supposedly all powerful League
of Nations, which would insure the
world against further wars the topic
of how best to prepare for coming
conflicts continues TO occupy French
as well as other European officialdom
So far as Paris is concerned. It's
astonishment when the Big Berthas
began pumping shells from more
than sixty miles away into the city
has resulted in a proposal that the
Germans be beaten at their own game,
by the construction OF even more
powerful weapons, whether for Of
fensive or defensive purposes.
Huge Gun Means Expense.
In fact, research has been going on
for months at Government arsenals, and
II is rumored that experts are convinced
a gun can be built which vii carry
death dealing shell. either high explo-
sive or gas, at least eighty miles. The
War Office always discourages the dis
cussion of such possibilities, pointing out
that not only the cost Of manufacture,
but maintenance as WELL would be al
most prohibitive. aside from considera-
tion OF the fact that the guns would re-
auire special railways for their convey
ance to strategic points-and France has
no funds for such enormous projects.
Deputy Guernier, of one OF the CEN
tral departments. firmly believes In, tha
efficacy OF such weapons. In a recent in
tervew he suggested that Tire cost might
be compensated by the withdrawal OF
/. 900 French troops from the Rhineland-
BY placing the French "Berthas' at
Metz. say. or equivalent distances behind
the Rhine, cities like cobIenz. Cologne.
Mayence or even Frankfort. could be
blown out Of existence in few hours
should the Germans ever show fight, or
refuse to heed French warnings.
Those who believe that the war Of the
future win be fought in tbs air are seek
/ ing means OF assuring the safety or
| French fiiers. Leaving the question of
armament and metallic construction 10
| the designers. che Aero Club is said 10
have recommended that three factors Of
safety be insisted upon in every air
plane. whetheT 1t is designed for com-
mercial or military use.
Factors for FIiers' safety.
The FIRST is that Some sort OF a para
chute device be readily available. IL IS
likely that prizes win be offered soon for
such an invention The second is that A
wireless telephone OF long range be In
cludcd in the equipment The third pro-
vision is for plural motors, that the sud-
den failure OF the motor In midair, which
Il responsible for 80 per cent. of all ca
tastrophcs. might not be fatal.
But, according to NJ Buan, who head
ed che military experts at the Washing
ton conference, greater attention must
be paid 10 chemical warfare His friends
say that VI. Buan is greatly alarmed
over German progress in that direction,
declaring that the ex-enemy Is already
producing enough material a. day virtu-
ally 20 assure success If he can find sur
ficient aircraft from which to drop poi
son gas upon French cities.
VI. Buan protests against the short
sightedness Of the French Governmenr
in cutting off the subsidies formerly
provided for Frances few laboratories,
thereby preventing valuable research in
this direction. while German Laboratories
ore multiplying 70 an unprecedented de-
gree. apparently with no intention Of
ever observing the anti-gas principles
laid down At the Washington conference.