CAB80-25 — Page 321

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ANNEX.

265

ANTI-GAS DEFENCE.

Reference paragraph 1 of your Minute (Flag A), we submit the following Report:-

Navy.

2.

Equipment. The provision of gas masks and protective clothing is satisfactory; decontamination units for the large establishments are now coming into supply.

3.

Training and Gas Discipline. Measures are being pressed forward to counteract any relaxation, which may have occurred owing to pressure of other war training commitments.

Home Forces.

4.

Equipment. The defensive equipment of the field forces is in good order and deficiencies are not serious.

5.

Training. Training throughout the autumn and winter has been progressive and has been made realistic by the use of toxic generators and imitation spray from aircraft. Decontamination arrangements are well advanced.

6.

When gas

Additional Precautions and Instructions. attack seems imminent leadquarters Home Forces will issue consolidated instructions on anti-gas defences summarising those issued during the last six months7. No fresh instructions are needed. The issue of the special meteorological forecast, suspended for the winter, will be resumed in the middle of February.

R.A.F.

Equipment. The defensive equipment of the R.A.F. including W.A.A.F. and civilians is considered satisfactory.

7.

8.

Special

Instructions. Until gas warfare begins, full use of individual and collective protection is in abeyance. Instructions have recently been issued warning all Commands to ensure complete preparedness for anti-gas defence. instructions have been issued to stations on the east and south-east coast regarding the possibility of Phosgene attacks from the sea.

New Filters for Gas Masks.

9.

The Chemical Warfare Board keeps under constant review all research work, and all Intelligence Reports on new toxic gases. It is not considered that any addition to the respirator is at present necessary. Methods of countering the use of a new gas by means of a special filter are in hand, but it is considered unlikely that they will be needed.

10.

It will be seen from the above that our defensive measures are in a fairly good state. This, however, is not the case in regard to our preparations for retaliatory measures. The Chiefs of Staff propose to submit a report on these in the near, future.

(Signed) DUDLEY POUND.

28TH JANUARY, 1941.

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J.G. DILL. C.F.A. PORTAL.

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