The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-03-06
CHEMISTRY IN PEACE WAR.
One Form OF Preparedness That is
Readily interchangeable.

Brig. Gen Amos \. Fries. Chief OF
Chemical Warfare service, IN his annual
report to the SECRETARY OF war tor the
fiscal wear 1921. maker reference to sub
iects that are of particular interest TO
the chemical industries OF the country:
4 he report points out the relation OF
these industries to the government and
the place they occupy in the industrial
mobilization OF the country S commercial
resources.
" One OF the great results. of the last
war has been the development of an in
dustry-new to this country-which
has greater possibilities for the produe-
ton of war materials than any other
known industry. This organic chemical
industry utilizes in peace time, in the
manufacture of pharmaccutIcals, dyes,
Photographic chemicals, perfumes, food
hayors, artificial fibres, food colors, etc,
the same crudes and Intermediates which
are required for the production OF cNpio-
sives and toxic chemicals.
= At the outbreak of the war nations
viii mobilize their man power and IN,
dustrial power, and will strive with all
their facilities to find a means that will
win, and when the life OF nation Is at
stake no method of warfare that prom
ises results VIII 20 unused. Recently the
feeling has been growing that the burden
of preparation Is to great, and that eX-
rensive forms OF ornaments can be re-
of ornaments may be kept down, but
suitable preparation for material defense
must be kept up Chemical prepared
ness is the cheapest method OF prepare
ton for defense and recent development
indicates that it is one of the most eff
fective. Indeed. the outstanding result
cf bombing tests recently carried on
has been the realization that the defense
of the seacoast against an enemy that
must cross the ocean has become I'M
measurably strengthened.
Prior to the World war the submar-
/ inc had already made the old-fashiOned
! blockade of g port impossible. Today
! and in the future, with the submarine
augmented BY the airpalne and chemical
warfare materials, fleets cannot approach
/ a coast with safety unless they can
carry sufficient alrplanes to overcome
! the land air force. s..
! "The evolution of armament and ma
tcrials of war Is more rapid process
today than it has ever been before, and
the next decade will see changes in
armament more radical than ever oc-
Cured in a similar period OF history
The conference on limitation OF arma-
ment will but hasten that end. Never
theless, we must not dclude ourselves
with the idea that any particular method
of warfare can be abolished by agree
ment until all warfare Is abolished.
j "Chemical warfare materials, as well
as high explosives, are fundamentally
bound up with the synthetic organ.
chemical industry, an important part of
the peace life Of a nation. The develop
lrcnt of this industry automatically PRO
vides nation with the most effective
weapons for defense. The nation that
has a coal supply sufficient to furnish
power and coal tar products can make
all high explosives and war gases needed
or that can be uesd, and with the de-
velopment of an efficient air service such
a nation can. at a minimum expense,
defend its shores against any enemy.
New York Times