Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-05-21
Washington Digest
u. 5. Army Is On Alert
For Chemical Warfare
Many Developments in Gas Warfare Date From
World War |; America Thought to Have
Greatest Potential Gas Offensive.
BY BAUKHAGE
Ne,Us analyst and Commentator.

That was not the first use of gas
in warfare-the first recorded use
was some time earlier-in fact, just
2,445 years earlier-at the siege of
Plataea, when the Spartans burned
wood saturated with pitch and sui
phur under the walls. 1t failed be-
cause rain came up. Five years
later similar "gas attack" was a
complete success at the siege of
Delium where the fumes drove the
defenders from the city's walls in a
panic.
Recent Developments
The most recent developments in
gas warfare has just been revealed.
The Allies have known for some time
that the Germans had new power
full gas which it is almost impossible
to detect by smell. 1t can now be
stated that this gas is nitrogen
mustard, a relative of the deadly,
burning mustard gas of the last war
but far more volatile and that much
more effective, for it enters tbs
lungs in greater quantities. 1t can
also now be stated that the Ameri-
cans are able to manufacture this
gas rapidly and in quantity, if nee
essary. Our experts are thoroughly
familiar with its characteristics.
The other development which will
greatly increase the efficiency of the
use of gas, if it is used today, is the
new method of spraying it from low
flying planes. This makes it posi-
BILE to contaminate an area contain
ing troops almost without warning.
However, it is believed that the
United States is not only prepared
with the best protection but prob
ably has the most effective poten-
tial gas offensive weapons of any Of
the armies.
What are the arguments in favor
of the use of this weapon which, so
far, has not been used? Let me
quote Brigadier General Watt:
EVERY sensible man is agreed
that war should be resorted to only
when all peaceful methods have
failed. When, in order to sustain its
policies, nation has no other choice
but to use force to gain its ends, it
should do this with as little loss as
possible. Not only should there be
little loss to the nation itself but
unnecessary loss to its enemy should
be avoided. Victory depends or the
amount of loss. The smaller the
loss to both sides, the greater the
victory to the victor. This may be
strange doctrine but it is sound"
Unusual Outlook
WAR" Watt believes, "is not car
ried on to kill or destroy but rather
to enforce policy, and if possible,
the enforcement should be accom-
plished without loss of life or prop
erty."
We can work toward this end by
the use of gas. He points to these
facts for his argument: There were
275,000 American casualties in the
American ranks in the last war.
More than one-fourth were caused
by gas. Of the gas casualties, only
about 2 per cent died. In other
words, the men wounded by gas had
about IL times the chance to live
as those wounded by other weapons.
To urge the use of gas sounds
strange, indeed. l recall how sur
prised l was when young Chinese
captain, who had fought through
most of the campaigns against
Japan, said to me: Gas is kindly
weapon" Of course, he had never
met it himself but he had seen plenty
of men blown apart by shrapnel and
high explosive and he was very posi-
tive in his statement.
What about civilians if gas is
used? In the first place, America,
of course, is in less danger than
Britain because of distance but not
out of danger. There has been much
contradictory opinion expressed as
to the possibility of casing cities.
One view is that it would be utterly
ineffective, the other is that whole
populations could be blotted out
Watt says both extreme views are
wrong. That there is a middle
ground, that gas can be used against
industrial and political centers of i'm
portance for its disorganizing and
demoralizing effect but that the chief
targets will be strategic points such
as railway stations, power and light
plants and the like. Gas will not
wipe out populations, he believes, it
will not entirely supplant explosives.
But it will be an effective weapon.
The most important defense, aside
from material means of protection
which Watt describes in detail, is
education and discipline.