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To employ our limited gas resources against the German civil population in these particular circumstances would not be justified.

5.

Detailed plans have been drawn up by the Air Staff for the employment of gas in this eventuality. The present distribution of gas weapons to give effect to these plans is summarised in the Appendix to this Note. Gas containers and bombs have been distributed to the appropriate R.A.F. stations in accordance with this plan, and personnel have been trained in their use. There is one important tactical limitation imposed by the employment of gas only in retaliation, If bombs are to be used, they can be fitted immediately to the existing racks without appreciable delay. On the other hand, if gas spray is employed, there will be a delay of about 12 hours in order to fit the specialised equipment before operations can begin.

6.

The question of directing immediate retaliation against the German civil population, should the enemy employ gas against the civil population in this country without invasion, has been given separate consideration. The views of the Air Staff on the best method of employing gas in these circumstances are recorded in C.I.D.1456-B, dated August 1938, The following quotation summarises

their conclusions:-

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Gas, incendiary bombs and high explosives are

in no sense alternatives; rather are they complementary. The incendiary bomb extends the destructive effect of the H.E. bomb, while gas, if employed in conjunction with these weapons, will add seriously to the strain on the morale of the civil population. Furthermore, defence against gas will certainly necessitate the diversion of a considerable proportion of the available amount of effort and resources from offensive to defensive activities."

In the view of the Air Staff, gas bombs should be the primary gas weapon for employment against the civilian population. In general, gas bombs should form some 25% of the bomb load dropped. Spray may be used in certain circumstances but it will be a secondary weapon applied to suitable areas of dense population to gain a harassing and demoralising effect.

8.

It follows from the above considerations that no specific detailed plan for the employment of gas against the civil population can be prepared in advance. When the Fa Cabinet decide that gas is to be used, it will devolve on the Air Staff to select those objectives in their current plans, the attack of which will react most immediately on the civil population. For example, targets in the Ruhr will probably be the most profitable from this standpoint. Again, the psychological effect of the inclusion of a proportion of gas weapons in attacks on important centres such as Berlin will also have to be considered in the light of the strategical situation existing at the time.

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