Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-16
POISON GAS IN WARFARE

When the death-rattle was In the
threats of American boys gassed in
tho World War we said never
again" We thought dum-dum bull
let's merciful by comparison. Dunn
dunn bullets had been outlawed in
warfare. OF course we would outlaw
poison gas. Eight years have passed.
After a while they got around at
Geneva to framing a protocol to out
law poison gas as means OF war;
fare and referred 1t to America On
Monday the Senate, without debate
mind you, sent it back to the COM
mittee without comment. Hope is
expressed that this will be the end
of 1t.
The American Legion is said to
oppose such a treaty. We are not
informed whether this was by any
general action, any referendum
among the members Of the Legion.
Surely the opinion Of those who
died In the agonies of gas poisoning
was not obtained. We doubt II those
now suffering from the effects of it
were consulted. We note that Gen.
eral Pershing, who should know
something about the matter Is I'M
qualifedly against the use of poison
gas in warfare. We have faith in
his judgement and in his integrity.
We prefer his opinion to that which
is ascribed to the Legion, to that
which might not be ascribed to the
chemists and the makers Of chemi-
calls, but which we suspect emanates
from that quarter. We prefer 1t to
the opinion said to be based on the
record of deaths and discharges
from hospitals. That record is
incomplete, as it does not include the
essential data respecting the actual
present condition Of the gassed, who
survived the ordeal. 1t ignores the
hellish agonies of those gassed. 1t
overlooks the consequent infiiction
gas would make on -combatants.
The use Of poison gas was frowned
upon at the Washington Conference.
At Geneva this protocol now put to
sleep in a Senate committee was
endorsed by II Of the nations, includ-
ing Germany, that first resorted to it,
with all facilities at her command
and her enemies for the moment
helpless. 1t didn't win the war for
her not withstanding her advantage.
Our own country has an advantage
in the way of facilities for producing
these gases. Are we afraid to restrain
such advantage? Germany once had
like advantage; what did it profit
her?
And this from a man prominent
in the Legion, a veteran, Hamilton
Fish Jr., who does not hesitate to
declare that powerful interests"
have Influenced the Legion. Every
thinking man and woman knows"
he says, that poison gas" is "a
means Of carrying sudden and hor-
rible death to countless women and
children crowded into cities far
behind the lines" The General
Board Of the U. S. Navy condemns the
use of the gas.
But others will use it If we don't"
say some. The same would be true
Of dum-dum bullets, of all forms of
manning, terrorizing. But, say others,
our country would keep its word and
SO be at the mercy of countries that
didn't. But would we then be in any
worse plight than were France and
England when Germany began the
use Of poison gas? We would not
by any reasonable compact be
estopped from fighting fire with fire,
would we? Here, Of course, would
be weak link in precautions against
the use Of the gas. The use of tear
gas or of asphyxiating gases would
not be Objectionable were 1T not that
the equipment for the use of such
gases might and doubtless would
be easily converted to use of chlorine,
mustard and other agonizing gases.
The only precaution at all feasible
would seem to be definitely outlawing
the use of gas. Any nation then
preparing suitable equipment could
hardly avoid detection