Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-13
20 Million
Reds Ready
To Use Gas
Nazis Apt 70 Take Heed
Of Churchill Warning
BY PAUL MALLON


w Churchill could also have
said, if the Nazis start gas war
fare, they will find the Reds
better equipped than they to
handle that vicious method Of
scattering death in all direc-
lions.
The Russians as far back as
Is years. organized group
known as the Asoaviakhim. con-
solidating civilian chemical war
fare division and a civilian avia-
ton corps. They had 1000. 900
members in 1928. Perhaps 90
100000 today.
The primary duty Of this or
ganization was to popularize
military methods among the
people. Both offensive and de-
fensive gas drills were held reg
ularly. parades of thousands of
Asoaviakhims were staged in
Moscow streets regularly.
Furthermore. the Russians are
well stocked. as is practically
every one else. Little metal is
needed for manufacture of the
gas. II can be. and has been
stored, for long periods.
CHURCHILL'S warning will
~ probably be effective On the
Nazk. for the above reasons and
others. Doubt is held here that
this cruelest method of fighting
will be taken up by any nation
except as a last desperate-and
no doubt useless--resort.
Gas is not generally recog-
nized as an efficient military
weapon. II is hard to handle.
Troops at the front can use it
only when conditions are ideal,
when the wind is right and can
be guaranteed to stay right.
Advancing troops shun its use
because it would be a hindrance
TO their forward movement. Re-
treating troops can use it eff
fectively only in the form of
mines. left behind after with
drawal. THE Russians are
adept at mine warfare.)
1t can be dropped from air.
planes but it will be effective
only when ground conditions
(which the bombers can hardly
know are suitable.
All known types rise only
about 30 feet from the ground
so all persons who can get above
the second story of city buildings
can count themselves secure.
Furthermore. a gas mask is al
most a complete defense.
DOPULAR tension over the
L war is strangely not extend
ing into the primary elections.
Involved congressman here see
signs of less than usual interest
in politics back home this year.
One senator whose renomina-
ton primary is only three weeks
off says he cannot tell whether
he will win, because the prospect
is for the lightest vote in years.
Others say they find il hard to
get people to listen to politics.
The South Dakota primary
last week registered only about
two-thirds of the normal vote,
although sitting Senator Bulow
was defeated. Two years ago
in the gubernatorial race 1884,
600 votes were cast; this year
only 100000 with a few pre-
cints still missing.
A storm occurred in one Of
the districts which may have
kept some people away from the
polls, but sugar registration was
held the same day throughout
the state and was counted upon
to get the people out for rec
ord vote.
When voting is light and issues
dim, it is easier for well organ
lied groups 10 win. This
acknowledged conc ion has
caused many an old antagonist
of the administration to look
more carefully to his fences.
Senator w hee Ter. further
more, is saying he detects a con-
certed effort by some one to
estroy isolationists, either
through politics or other means.
He says he looks for mean cam
paigns where isolationists are
involved"
THE great fleet victory off
L Australia was too sparingly
reported at first 10 cause au-
thorities here TO accept the
popular dcductionS-such inter-
pretationS as one indicating the
JapS were then bent on invasion
of Australia or were moving
down TO the New Hebrides
Islands. New Caledonia or New
Zealand 10 cut our lines Of COM
municationS.
Most official sources decided TO
wait until details were available
before reaching definite con-
illusions What puzzled them
most was the fact that only
few Jap transports were sunk.
If an invasion movement any
where had been broken up, they
figured there would have been
more.
THE Japs are already reported
shying away from the Burma
road as n line of advance into
China. Its tortuous mountain
winding way will enable the
Chinesps demolition SQUADS IN