Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-14
$I,OOO,WO CUT
IN CHEMICAL
WAR SERVICE
Results of Peace PGrLey
ShOUn to Be Far
Reaching.
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphie Public Ledger.
n CnACc hNrCU nREVE

w WASHINGTON, March 14-At least
one preaching gift from the Wash
ington conference was handed to the
world when the military appropriations
bill cut the amount of the chemical war
fare service from The budget estimate Of
81 100, 900 to $500, 00G.
In view of the sweeping agreement to
abolish poison gas as a weapon of war
fare, now embodied in a treaty before
the Senate, it might have been expected
that the United States would Danish
chemical warfare from It's thoughts, but
review of the sum will show chat to
days drastic cut is indeed a great step
toward that goal.
The principal reason for this asser-
ton is to be found in the testimony Of
the chief of the chemical warfare serv-
ice. Brigadier General Fries. On page
1910, of the volumnous report of the
hearings before the subcommittee CON
sidering military appropriations for the
next fiscal year beginning July y we
find that General Fries appeared before
the committee on Feb. 10.
He was to be expected as a witness
since the budget contained an approprl-
alton Of s1,509 600, which the committee
was to consider. Here, 1t is important
to understand that General Dawes bud
get was made up before the conference
was held. Hence we must not be sur
prised to find money. intended for the
chemical warfare service which was es
tablished after our entry into the World
War. It has been elaborated rather than
diminished ever since.
ACTIVITIES OF
CHEMICAL SERVICE.
We find General Fries launching into an
account Of the activities Of his chemical
warfare service. He tells Of the manu-
facture Of poison gas and gas masks and
Of the efficiency OF the plant at Edge
wood. Maryland. when Chairman An
thOuy interrupts significantly:
General, is there anything In the re-
cent tr-aties that the U1ited States ne
gotiaten With foreign countries that lin
its your chemical warfare activities?"
"No sir" replied General Fries. The
treaty simply provides that the sigma
tory powers will not use gases and similar
materials against one another in war
and they Invite other powers TO join"
Let us see just what the treaty says.
We refer to Article V, of the treaty
signed by the nine powers at the confer
ence and representatives Of Australia,
New Zealand, Canada and British india,
Gin relation TO the use Of submarines ana
notious gases in warfare" now before the
Senate as one Of the conference treaties.
1t says:
The use Of war Of aspbyxiating, pot
sonous or analogous liquids or materials
or devices having been Justly condemned
by the general opinion OF the civilized
world and a prohibition Of such use hav-
ing been regarded In treaties to which
a majority Of the civilized powers are
parties.
Now to the end that this prohibition
shall be universally accepted az part or
international law binding alike the con.
science and practice OF nations, the
signatory powers declare their assent to
such prohibition, agree TO be bound
thereby between Themselves and invite all
other civilized nations 90 adhere there
to-"
That copy Of the treaty win he sent
to oil non signatory powers for their ad-
herencc Is added.
General Fries did not read the treaty,
In testifying why the appropriation for
chemical warfare service should be con-
tinued. but he quoted from Mr.. Bal
tours and VI. Sarraut's statements at
the conference These expressed doubt
that interruptions nations would adhere
to the treaty Hence, in General Fries
opinion. the necessity Of T. search and
preparation in chemical warfare.
MANUFACTURES OF CHEMICALS
IN PEACE TIMES.
General Fries also pointed tn possible
peace activities Of the chemical warfare
service in developing gas masks for the
bureau Of explosives handling explosives
and in1ammable materials on railroads.
for safety devices for the bureau Of
mines, and for the public health service
in fumigating ship and for other Gov
eminent departments.
However, Of the tweniy -sevcn closely
printed pages giving questions and an
swers about the chemical warfare serv-
ice, only two or three paragraphs refer
to peace use. The rest is devoted to
war preparedness and training OF civil
ian personnel and officers for chemical
warfare.
That General Fries told the committee
he ought to have Just as much money
this year as last is shown on page 1890.
General Fries:
II want to make one other statement
about this 81 100000 which was finally
approved by the War Department. We
feel we ought to have as much money
as we had this year. that is, little over
81 10000
Considering this testimony and con-
sidering the reduction to S500,0 900 in the
committees military appropriation bill
as reported to the House today, we surely
can see a tangible result OF the Washing
ton conference. The subject is Of en-
crossing interest to women to whom the
wholesale destruction of soldier boys is
still an ever present nightmare.--Cop
right, 1922, by Public Ledger Company.