Word: prentiss
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...Thermit, a mixture of iron oxide and powdered aluminum which burns at 3,000° C., was the chief World War incendiary. It was used in conjunction with oil to spread fires which the thermit started. Since there is not much of importance to burn on a battlefield, Author Prentiss believes the chief future use of thermit and other incendiaries will be against cities...
...less stable than its chemical brother but easier to fill into shells. The phosgenes accounted for 80% of the War's fatal gas casualties. Nevertheless, it had a tell-tale odor, efficient anti-phosgene, masks were developed, and wet weather weakened its effect, made it visible. Author Prentiss does not regard its future chances highly...
Mustard was far & away the most important vesicant in the European arena. In 1918, however, the U. S. was manufacturing a powerful blister-liquid called Lewisite, none of which reached the front. Because of its arsenic content, Lewisite may poison the blisters it produces. Author Prentiss declares that 30 drops of Lewisite splashed on a man's skin would be fatal. It is more volatile and less persistent than mustard gas, however, and if no arsenic poison sets in, its wounds heal more quickly. Author Prentiss believes that under favorable" conditions Lewisite would prove superior to mustard. British experts...
Cities Gassed? In 1931 Biographer Emil Ludwig published in the Satevepost a scarehead article in which he stated: "Twelve big bombs of Lewisite gas dropped on Berlin or Chicago would be enough to destroy all life in those cities." Chemical officers jumped on this statement as utter nonsense. Author Prentiss points out that to lay down any sort of effective (not lethal) contamination it would be necessary to deposit 10 Ib. of vesicant liquid on every...
...admit-or even argue-that it is conceivable that some foreign power or combination of powers might drive the U. S. Navy to cover, bring up their aircraft carriers to 50 or 100 miles from the coast, attack New York. Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, St. Louis by air. Lieut.-Col. Prentiss holds that, if such a fantastic possibility materialized, incendiary bombs and high explosives would be more harmful than gas. To be effective, gas requires masses of human beings at ground level and without adequate shelter. War gas is heavy. Even if the enemy had the tremendous number of planes...