Poison Gas Defense Lacking in University

If enemy planes drop poison gas bombs on Cambridge and the University, there are no preparations as yet to counteract them, according to George F. Hooker, Cambridge City Engineer in charge of sanitation. Decontamination squads play an important part in the air raid defense of a city, Hooker said, but the Civilian Defense Committee to date has felt that protection against incendiaries was more important.

After a gas bomb has fallen, an area of many yards around it must be isolated until the poison gas has either been counteracted or washed away, Captain Friell of the Cambridge Fire Department, who has been to a chemical warfare school revealed yesterday.

"Specially trained personnel as well as specialized equipment and chemicals are needed for this work," he said, "but if volunteers are signed up, we can probably train them, and the government will probably provide the equipment."