Evening star., 1941-05-12
War Engineers
Told Gas Bombs
NayAppear Yet
Types Of Missiles
Being Used Now
Described to Society

b6SSTlDSu ~ SOSlSty
Though gas bombs have not been
used thus far in the European con-
f1ict, they may be employed should
the situation demand more horrible
effects" Sherwood B. Smith, princi-
pal engineer of the Notifications
Section of the War Department s
Office of the Chief Engineer, de-
clared today in describing air raids
and protective construction before
the annual meeting of the Society
of American Military Engineers.
Speaking in the Mayfower Hotel
he gave description of the effects
of bombs on various types OF
structures and air raid shelters
He remarked that gas bombs
usually contain a persistent gas
such as mustard gas, but may con-
tain tear gas, arsenic compounds,
chlorine or Lewisite."
Mr.. Smith said aerial mines are
being used effectively by the Ger
mans against weak structures such
as may be found in the poorer sec
tions of London These bombs are
dropped by parachute to bring the
bomb to rest without damage to
the case, thus reducing penetration
which would decrease the blast
effect.
Bomb Types Depicted.
His illustrated lecture outlined the
various types of bombs being used
IN the present war He declared
the average war bomb weighs 1,100
pounds, the range being from light
200-pound explosives to the 2-ton
missiles.
He said splinter damage from
bombs was comparatively small for
persons who hugged the ground.
THE zone next to the ground is
reasonably safe, as the splinters are
thrown outward and upward. The
soldiers of the British Army learned
to throw themselves on the ground
In Flanders when being bombed by
the Germans and suffered remarka-
bly, little injury from bombs bursting
close by" he said.
In discussing air raid shelters he
said the impact and explosion could
cause bond failure between steel and
concrete used in fabrication. as they
act separately lin resisting those eff
fects." He added: Conclusion
may be transmitted through the
concrete and may affect the occu-
pants, but few serious injuries from
conclusion in England have been
reported"
Gas Mains Hazard.
Mr.. Smith said greatest hazards
from smashed gas mains. potential
sources of serious fires. Water
mains may be damaged though they
are less susceptible, he added. A
damaged sewerage system is less
vulnerable and may continue to
function.
Power lines are not easily dam
aged because earth movements do
not affect them to such an extent,
he said. He suggested that with gas
line failure electricity could be used
for heating, cooking and steriliza-
ton of water.
New construction should be of
steel or concrete frame and should
be designed so displacement or dam
age to any column or structural
member would not cause collapse
of a large portion of the building,
Mr.. Smith said. Steel frame build
ings withstand demolition effects
very well, but must be protected
against fire damage.
Mr.. Smith said that an adequate
splinter proof family shelter could
be built at a cost of s75 per person
and that for $50 a bomb-resistant
building could be constructed. "These
costs can undoubtedly be reduced
by quantity production, especially
the splinter proof shelter" he said.
President Sends Message.
President Roosevelt, in a letter
of greeting to the society sent to
j. Monroe johnson, retiring presi-
dent, said:
"1t gives me great pleasure to
send my greetings to you and to
the members of the Society Of
American Military Engineers on the
occasion of the 1941 annual meeting
of the society.
American engineers have an un-
rivaled record of daring and achieve
ment. In these times, when the
functions of engineers in national
defense have increased so greatly
in scope and responsibility, America
looks confidently to its engineers.
1T seems to me that the American
Society of Military Engineers sup
plies readily that means by which
the civil engineer may be mill
tarily informed and the military
and naval engineer civilly informed
without interruption of their re-
spective duties.
ITO your new president, Admiral
Moreell, and to your other officials
and members, send my best wishes
for increased usefulness in the try
ing days which confront US"
Inspections Scheduled.
Inspection trips to the Washing
ton National Airport and to Fort
Belvoir are included in the two-day
program of the society.
Inspection of the airport will be
made this afternoon. following
morning session of discussion and
presentation of technical papers. A
dinner will be held tonight at the
hotel.
Tomorrows inspection of Fort
Belvoir will include demonstrations
of floating bridge construction, gen.
eral construction and fixed bridging
methods, and assault tactics.
Col. David McCoach, jr., District
Commissioner; Col Roscoe c. Craw-
ford, Capt. c. L. Garner, Maj. Vic
tor v. Martin and Capt. A. F. E.
Horn are in charge of the program.