1937-12-23 — Page 11

DEFENCE AGAINST

POISON GAS

Value Of Simple Precautions

SEVERE OFFICIAL TESTS

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd. Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office, in a speech on the second reading of the Air Raid Precau- tions Bill in the House of Commons, gave some account of ex- periments carried out to test the efficacy of recommendations made by the Home Office for protection against the types of pelson gas which might be employed by hostile aircraft in time of war.

A report issued recently describes the experiments, which were conducted by the Chemical Defence Committee, in detail, and submits that the result combined to show that if the instruc- tions given in a handbook clrculated by the Air Raid Precautions Department are followed a very high standard of protection may be obtained."

felt.

These four examples, the report submits, clearly demonstrate that apart from the protection which a house provides against falling spray, some measure of protection Ls afforded even by an ordinary unprotected room against gas clouds such as are produced by bombs close to the building.

The gist of the recommendations | civilian respirators no effects were is that in the event of a raid people should go indoors, arrange for the room into which they go to be made as gas-proof as pos- sible, and take with them respira- tors which would have been issued. The committee responsible for the experiments consists of scientists from the Universities of Oxford, and other experts, and some mem- *bers have been continuously

engaged on researches since was first used in war in 1915.

The experiments.

the

report states, were carried out with four

gos

different types of gas, and the house used was a gamekeeper's cottage with three rooms on the ground floor and three rooms upstairs. It was to a large extent sheltered by belts of trees which reduced the strength of the wind in the vicinity of the cottage to about one-elgth of that in the орел.

il

UNPROTECTED ROOM The first series of tests was to assess the degree of protection obtained in a house which had not, been treated in, any way. In one. experiment over a ton of chlorine gas was released 20 yards from the house, so that the wind carried It straight to an unprotected room. A very strong gas cloud was thus. maintained for about 40 minutes, during which time, the gas gradua)- ly penetrated to the inside. A fire was burning in the hearth the whole time, and the only measures taken to exclude the gas consisted of closing the doors and windows In the normal way.

PROTECTED ROOM

A second series of experiments was carried out with the same four gases to illustrate the added protection which can be obtained by treating a room in accordance with the Instructions given in Air Rald Precautions Handbook No. 1. The room selected was or the ground floor on the windward side of the cottage, so that it WAA subjected to the full effects of the gas and the wind. Instructions for excluding gas were carried out by unskilled men, and as the house was not provided with floor cover- ing the joints between the boards of the door were sealed up by pasting strips of paper along the joints. Two tons of chlorine gas were released 20 yards from the house. the time of emission being an hour.

Animals. In an unprotected room were killed: but animals in the "gas protected" room were unaf- fected

and remained normal, notwithstanding the severity of the trial. In the mustard gas ex- priment, at the end of 20 hours animals showed no evidence at all of the effects of gas, and measure-" ments by chemical methods showed that the amount of gas inside the Human beings who occupied the

room was so small, that a man unprotected room, found that gas

could have remained there for the penetrated

slowly into the

whole 20 hours without it being room and after about seven

for necessary

him to wear minutes It became neccessary for them to put on their respira-respirator and without any subse-

the house could.

quent ill effects.

tors. The quantity of gas con- centrated on

Men who occupied the protected under practical conditions, only room during the test with tear gas

several large

be obtained by bombs dropping very close to the building. The period of exposure to the maximum effects of the gas was many times longer than would normally be experienced s

In another experiment the house was enveloped in, a cloud of

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1937.

'Broadminded Heretic" Needed

Lord Lothian, "official" candidate for the Chancellorship of Edin- burgh University in succession to Sir James Barrie, and now to be "opposed by Lord Tweedsmuir (John Buchan), was described at the Universtly General Council as "a broadminded heretic."

Sheriff-substitute Nell M'Lean, who used this phrase, said the stimulus to be got from a broad minded heretic like Lord Lothian was to the good of the University and all connected with it. He denied that Lord Lothian was a Roman Catholic.

Tweedsmuir had decided that "he saw no reason for his withdrawi}” was greeted with prolonged ap-

when plause

disclosed to the meeting by his proposer, Dr. Edwin Bramwell.

Lord Lothian's claims to the Chancellorship were Arst put to the meeting by his proposer, Sheriff-substitute Net! M'Lean, who said that the committee had de- cided to nominate Lord Lothian after considering a number of

names,

There were the names at very eminent Scotsmen who held high The deep feeling that has lain offices for the Crown in parts of under the prospect of-the rival the world outside the British Isles. nominations WRS only partially

"We definitely and deliberately revealed recently when. by до put these names aside." he de- overwhelming majority, the Coun-clared, "for two reasons. They held cll decided that Lord Tweedsmuir | offices which necessitated their will oppose the "official" candidate. absence from Great Britain for Lord Lothlan was nominated the next three or four years, But some time ago by a representative the University cannot afford to committee of 50 members of the have an absent Chancellor. Council. When the nomination was put to the meeting at large a month ago, however. Lord Tweed- smuir was nominated as a rival candidate, and the meeting was adjourned so that Lord Tweeds muir could be acquainted with the full facts. "The

intimation

that Lord

ART EXHIBITION

Readers are reminded of the ex- hibition of Mr. Pau Shlu Yau's Chinese "paintings, opening to-day on the 8th floor of China Buliding and continuing until Monday the 27th, dally 10 am to 7 pm. Al- though "Mr. Pau has been staying in the Colony for the last six years having made a tour to Japan and China and holding one-man ex- hibitions in Shanghal and other parts of China, this is the first time

"It seemed to us, too, that it was not right to put up for an election such as this. one who held such high office in the State." | Lord Lothian's wide experience of public affairs and his deep inter- est in education matters made him well qualified to have their accep- Lance as new Chancellor. His in-

KING

terst in education was shown more, than anything by his recent gift of Newbottle Abbey-one of the. greatest experiments In higher education outside of the Univer- sitles that Scotland had known.

Dr Edwin Bramwell, Lord Tweedsmuir's

proposer, declared that the Governor-General ลง one of the outstanding Scotsmen of to-day.

The duties of a Chancellor were lifelong. and they felt so strongly. about Lord Tweedsmuir that they were well prepared to wait for two or three years if need be until he returned:

ן

It was evident from the applause which greeted Dr Bramwell that the majority of those attending the meeting were in support of Lord Tweedsmuir. and when a vote was taken on the nomina- tions, 76 votes were-recorded for Lord Lothian.

When those supporting Lord Tweedsmuir' were asked to stand, however, so overwhelming was the majority that Sherif M'Lean, with a gesture of his hand, said there was no need to count, and called for a poll,

The election will now, therefore. be carried out by post.

DESCRIBED AS

MAN

HONEST

GROWING STRENGTH OF WILL NOTED

IN NEW BOOK

"England does not ask for a scholarly King or a witty King or one who lives in glamour,... The present King is an honest man.”

This passage sums up the theme the Hong Kong Working of "George VI." the new book of Artists' Guild have been able to Mr. Hector Bolitho, published by present an exhibition of the en-Messrs, Eyre and Spottiswoode (78

6d). tire output of his work,

j

Mr. Pau is considered the mast Chinese traditional outstanding artists in the Colony and in the account of Modern Chinese Art

movement he was mentioned as one of the leading figures,

The range of subjects in the

present Exhibition include birds, animals, flowers, landscapes and figures, and the total number of exhibits is a little over 300. These include 20 pictures of which the entire proceeds produced from sale will be applied towards War Relief. The prices charged for these pic- tures äre very low averaging only $20 each as compared with those of other pictures in the show in spite of their high merit. Twenty cents. Including catalogue, will be charged for entrance fee which will also be applied towards War Reiter,

were able to remain there for. the hour of the experiment without respirators becoming necessary. When arsenical smoke was used it RECORD was found that some irritation was caused to the nose and throat which eventually rendered the wearing of respirators desirable to ensure comfort. After putting on

felt and mer who left the room wearing their civilian respirators were able to traverse the densest part of the cloud without discom- fort.

mustard gas for an hour. Animals the respirator no discomfort was were placed in an unprotected room and remained there during a period of spraying and for a further 20 hours while the house was subjected to vapour given off from trays filled with gas. Observa- tions

the made during

three subsequent days and also post- mortem examinations showed that none of the animals was seriously harmed by the mustard gas.

MOST SEVERE CONDITIONS

report

RECRUITING

FIGURES

Best November For

15 Years

Recruiting during November was the best in that month for the Regular Army since 1922, and for the Territorial Army since 1921.

The number of recruits approved during the month for the Regular

He tells many charming stories, gives many intimate glimpses of the King at work and play, and through them can be seen the striking likeness of the King to another honest man-his father.

"It is surprising to watch him. The movement of his hands the

way he touches things and writes. ...It is the same as his father." So commented one of the King's cousins who had seen him hard at work at his desk

CHANGE IN KING "Those, close to the King," says Mr. Bolitho, "noted a change in him almost overnight on his acces- ston It was as if the prayerk of his people had been truly answered. His confidence grew, his calm and Ministers nis dignity" of purpose. were surprsed by the growing strength of his will.”

Mr. Bolitho finds that the key note of the King's character is courage and simplicity, Hè la not "palace-minded."

At the age of 24 the King was asked to take up the industrial welfare scheme and visit factories. He walked to a window at Buck- Ingham Palace and said, "I »will do it, but I don't want any of that damned red carpet."

One of King George VL's great qualities is his willingnesss to listen to advice, and he has the gift of being able to choose the best advisers.

He is equally at home with men of varying shades "of

opinion, and not in the least abashed by extremes of Socialism.

Army was 2,635-an increase of

PRINCE AND PETTICOAT 1,008 (or £2 per cent.) over the

in Wales he was once met by number for the corresponding Mr. Frank Hodges, secretary of the month of last year. The number of Miners' Federation, who was wear- recruits approved for the eighting a red tie and red carnation. months of the present financial As they

passed a miner's cott- year (April to November) was 17,-

age the Prince noticed a flam- 099, compared with 13,956 during ing red petticoat on a clothes-une. the corresponding period of last He nodded towards Mr. Hodges financial year.

and then towards the petticoat.

"One of your supporters, Mr. Hodges?" he asked.

The experiments, the states, were purposely designed to represent the most severe condi- tions likely to be met and the Tear gas was used for the third results all combined to show that experiment, and the cottage was If the instructions given in the air enveloped for an hour in an intense raid precautions handbook are atmosphere produced by spraying carried out a very high standard the gas into the air at a point 10 of protection is obtained. "With yards upwind to the house. Men regard to the first precaution." It who were stationed 200 yards has been shown that going indoors downwind from the house and in and closing the doors and windows The number of recruits approved the track of the gas cloud were affords some measure of protec-for the Territorial Army during incapacitated in about a minute, Į tion.. even though the room November was 3.958-an increase and in some cases in 20 seconds, occupied has not been spécially of 1,201 (or 43.6 per cent.) over

Buckingham Palace we are happy and we feel safe when we know that within there is à married couple... England asks that its sovereign should be an example domestic integrity and nobleness ut motive.'

The Queen, says Mr. Bolitho, will never dazzle the women of Great Britain with magnificence or seem like someone remote from themselves. She will always re- present a standard as tangible to those who live in a villa in Ealing. in a tenement in Kennington, or in a lordly house set in a par...

"The standard is not exciting. It is the ideal prayed for so easily every.marriage service." Home correspondent.

in

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No. 2, Hamper

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Gordon's Dry Gin

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No 3 Hamper

1 qt. Sparkling Burgundy,

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WINE DEPARTMENT

Queen's Building

Telephone 20638-

TURKEY TIME

IS HERE AGAIN!

AND WHAT IS CHRISTMAS WITHOUT THE UNCROWNED KING OF XMAS FARE.

14

This year we have an even better

selection of

PRIZE DAIRY-FED

AUSTRALIAN TURKEYS

THAN EVER BEFORE

(Dressed Free of charge, stuffed' or roasted at a minimum charge)

(FROM 8 lbs- 20 lbs.)

On the other hand, some men who prepared. In these circumstances the number in the corresponding there is charm in his dry humour CHOOSE YOUR TURKEY NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.

there is ample time to put on the month last year. respirator at leisure if this should

The strength of the Territorial be necessary. If the second pre-Army on December 1, was 9,936 caution of rendering the room as officers and 149.012 other ranks, gas-proof as possible has been car- ried out, then the occupants will

which represents an increase of 83 officers and 1.894 other ranks normally be able to remain in

during the month. safety and comfort

Both the anti-aircraft divisions

The King may lack "superficial social gifts," says the author, but

and freedom from all affectation. His comrades in the RAF. found him "damned good company and specially adept at leap-frog.

father, the King is Like his "Impatient with humbug, and not in the least tardy in expressng indignation when he is displeased." Dealing with the abdication, Mr.

of

We are also accepting orders for :---

Dairy-fed GEESE, DUCKLINGS," milk-fed CHICKENS, selected AUSTRALIAN PHEASANTS, PORK LEGS, (whole or "half) PORK LOINS, (any, weight cut) ENGLISH YORK HAMS. (whole, or half) AUSTRALIAN PINEAPPLE HAMS, (whole or half) mild cured DANISH and CONTINENTAL GAMMONS. (any weight cut) genuine ENGLISH STILTON CHEESE (ripe and blue) A visit to the Provisions dept. will convince you of the quality and selection. All orders receive the utmost care and attention.

occupied rooms in the house which had received no treatment beyond the closing of the windows and doors found no need to put on their respirators for the first 13 minutes. The tear gas gradually penetrated into these unprotected rooms. although after three-quar- complete ters of an hour the strength of the ] without further protection. Under gas inside the house was still very the most severe conditions suffi- showed Increases during the Bolitho, states "On the eve much less than that outside. clent gas may penetrate such pro- month, that for the 1st Anti-the Coronation a wave of refresh- In the fourth experiment the tected rooms to be recognized or Aircraft Division being 796, and ed safety seemed to pass through cottage was enveloped for 20 even to cause alight, irritation, that for the 2nd Anti-Aircraft the land. minutes in 2 dense cloud of When this occurs the respirator Division 114. "Times." arsenical smoke. Men occupying an can be put on, though in many unprotected "room of the house cases this will be as a matter of found that the smoke penetrated | convenience and extra precaution into the room, but the strength of rather than real necessity. With wearer to reach a place of safety the cloud inside was much less regard to the civilian respirator, even if he should for a time be than that outside. When civilian it has been shown that this will, exposed to the most dangerous respirators were worn in this room in conjunction with the above situation-for example, if he is complete protection was obtained, precautions, provide complete caught out of doors in a gas the strength of good marriages. Men who were stationed 200 yards safety for any period for which it cloud, or if his gas-protected | It was the ultimate basis of their

OPEN UNTIL the abdication of downwind of the house and in the is likely to be required. It has room becomes damaged and he is reactions to path of the gas cloud were rapidly further been demonstrated that compelled to seek shelter else- Edward VIII. We are a domesticat- affected, but when they

ed people, and when we this respirator will enable the where."

wore

Within the walls of Buckingham Palace there was a happily married couple joined together in love and unanimity," as the Prince Consort and Queen Victoria had been England was pleased and soothed.

GOOD MARRIAGE STRESSED "Inglish people still belleve in

pass

1

LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.

6.

P.M.

Tel. 28151.