§ 59. Mr. HOLFORD KNIGHTasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air on what grounds an Order suppressing 1295 references to the manufacture of aircraft gas bombs was brought into operation at Woolwich Arsenal; and whether such Order is continued with the approval of the Government?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEThe Order to which this question refers concerned a type of bomb previously designated as "gas bombs." As this type is not exclusively intended to be filled with gas, the new nomenclature was introduced in order to avoid giving a false impression.
§ Mr. THURTLECan my hon. Friend say whether these gas bombs are poison gas bombs or not?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEThey are not gas bombs, but general utility containers. They can be used for gas purposes, and they can also be used with liquid creating smoke.
§ Mr. KNIGHTMay I ask why in the Order referred to, these words appear:
When dealing with correspondence or preparing documents, etc., of any description, relating to aircraft bombs, the word gas is on no account to he used"?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEI think that my answer covers the point of the question. The desire is not to create, either in this country or abroad, a false impression.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRIs it not a fact that gas is not being used?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEIt is a fact that gas is not being used, but it has been used for defensive experiments.