genious and inventive people. To-day only a small proportion emanates from the inhabitants of these islands. Industrial inventions are now, as a rule, not the result of a flash of intuition, but of patient, methodical, and skilled research carried out with big resources on a wellconsidered plan. On the whole, that country will produce the most chemical inventions which has the greatest number of trained research chemists. In the fields of discovery, as on the battlefield, numbers will tell. As Pasteur well said, "In the fields of discovery chance always favours the researcher." A. G. Green, F.R.S., based on scientific work communi- | portant inventions than our competitors. We are an incated to us by Sir William Pope himself. I had a good deal to do with the application of this process to the large scale, and we designed the main features of the great factory at the Edgewood Arsenal at Maryland, U.S.A., where the "Levinstein process" and the "Levinstein Reactor" proved a great success. I may claim to know something of mustard gas, and I am sorry to disagree with the deduction that Sir William Pope draws, viz., that the German chemical service was inefficient, and the scientific chemists under its control incompetent in comparison with ours; whereas, on the other hand, Germany was extremely well served by the skill and perseverance of her chemical manufacturers. In fact, we now know that the German method of making mustard gas had nothing whatever to do with the scientific chemists under the control of the German chemical service. It was decided by the I.G., and the process they selected was the best they knew of. If there were any inefficiency, as Sir William Pope says, that inefficiency was on the part of their manufacturers, and not on the part of the scientific advisers of the General Staff. I do not think there was any inefficiency. There is nothing technically cumbrous in the German process, nor is there any difficulty about it. Let us be quite frank. Our scientific advisers found this process difficult. If they had come straight to our dye industry we could have shown them how to carry out the reaction on the large scale without any difficulty whatever, exactly in the way the German dye industry carried it out. The fact is, that the production of mustard gas in England, on the other hand, remained for too long a prerogative of our scientific advisers. What happened? There was certainly no mustard gas produced. The successful manufacture of mustard gas in this country and in America commenced when the British dye industry took it up. We took it up on our own initiative, and mustard gas was produced by us on the large scale six weeks afterwards. In this short space of time a new process-not the German process-was evolved and plant adapted, but the British dye industry was not requested to make mustard gas as it should have been from the beginning. I do not in any way depreciate the value of the work of our scientific advisers, and I yield to no one in my respect for the achievements of Sir William Pope and his most able and distinguished academic associates. I do regret that he did not recognise that the success of our mustard gas work was due to the co-operation of the dye industry, with their great experience in the manufacture of organic products, with purely academic advisers of the Ministry. The correct inference was drawn by the authorities from these facts, for they became convinced of the unique value of the plants and technical experience of a dyestuff factory for the manufacture of toxic gases. From this point onwards our industry became very intimately associated with the development of chemical warfare. Do not misunderstand my argument. I do not advocate building dye plants for the purpose of making toxic gases. I do say that if the Germans retain their monopoly in dye. stuffs, they possess a monopoly in the rapid production of toxic gases, and that, in this event, the world is not safe for peaceful people. 3. New Industries can only be Created by Organised Research.-Very few people realise to what a small extent new industries arising out of new inventions have been created in England in recent years, in comparison with those created abroad, particularly in Germany. We are apt to regard our commercial supremacy as dependent upon a few well-established staple industries, such as, to instance, the cotton industry, whereas in fact the world moves on and new products and new methods are continually coming in, and that nation which produces the most inventions and the best inventions will, other things being equal, predominate. Before the development of the scientific industries I think we may fairly claim to have produced more im. There is no industry except the dye industry which can support a large number of organised research chemists. This cannot be more clearly expressed than in the report by Mr. A. Mitchell Palmer, the Alien Property Custodian of the United States (Chemical Section): "The vital character of that industry (the dyestuff industry) was not due to its financial importance, since the consumption of dyes in the United States at the time of the outbreak of the war did not exceed £25,000,000 a year in cost to the consuming industries, nor to the fact that these dyes were absolute essentials to industries producing perhaps £2,500,000,000 of goods annually, but most of all to the fact that the technical skill and equipment provided by a successful dye industry furnished the means, and almost the sole means, to which every nation must look for advances in the application of chemical science to practical undertakings. No other industry offers a livelihood to any such large numbers of highly-trained scientific chemists, nor any such incentive to continuous and extended research." The dye industry is thus a key industry in a new sense. It is the key to invention. It is necessary if we are to keep abreast of the world in the development of new industries arising out of chemical discoveries. The reaction of this on the chemical schools of our universities is of extraordinary importance, because the dye industry can provide a large outlet for highly-trained research chemists. As the dye industry lives by research, new buildings and plants are continually being erected for the manufacture of new products. This entails the employment of more chemists, who, as a rule, are drawn from the research departments, and their replacement by new research students from the universities. For the first time, young chemists can be assured of a career in industrial research-the most fascinating but elusive and difficult work open to our profession. The bond between organic chemical schools and the dyestuff industry is therefore bound to be a close one. The development of the industry which we plan will give an enormous impetus to the study and research in organic chemistry at academic institutions. In 4. Political Importance of the Dyestuff Industry.-The German dye industry was the most potent weapon possessed by Germany for peaceful penetration. America, Mr. Mitchell Palmer shows that the dyestuff sales organisation of the I G. firms was used by the German Government for espionage both before and during the The peaceful penetration of Russia and other foreign countries by Germany was one of the causes which war. led to the war. 1. It would be madness after the close of this terrible war, fought to secure our ideals of political freedom, not to make ourselves economically free from Germany. 2. It would be folly to leave Germany the sole possessor of factories, potential arsenals, which, because they were unique in the great war, enabled her to carry on this war for three additional dreadful years. 3. It is impossible for us to maintain our commercial supremacy if we throw away the one chance of organising the inventive talent of our chemists. I commend these propositions to all persons if there be any such who question the paramount importance of securing a firm, large, and flourishiug dye industry in our country for the protection and development of the vast interests of the Empire. It is, I believe, demonstrable that if Germany retains her predominance in Europe in the dye industry she will ultimately win the war, for though the campaign is gloriously ended, the war is not over nor the victors certain. Though the German military defeat is complete, they may yet regain through their dye industry their former ascendancy over Europe. Germany recognises this fact, and is straining every nerve, using every device, to re-establish her commercial dominance in the dye industry. Her propaganda is to be seen in the press, and not only in the German and neutral press. It is of the utmost consequence that these simple incontrovertible facts with regard to the importance of this industry should be brought thoroughly home to the people of this country. Conclusion. It follows from what I have said that enormous respon. sibility rests upon the chemists of this country, and I think that it is fully appreciated. During the war our chemists rendered good service and made sacrifices and ran risks as has been handsomely recognised in particular by Mr. Kellaway. But let us be quite clear on this. The real burden of the war was not borne by chemists, and the victory was not won by chemists or by engineers, but by the indomitable courage and tenacity of our soldiers. The real war work of our chemists lies yet before them, for it rests with chemists to secure in the next few years the opportunities the soldiers won for us, the fruition of which German chemists may yet deny us. In the final stage of the struggle, in which the clash of arms was but the first round, the chemist's work will be a decisive factor. If the chemist is to take his rightful place as a leader in our industrial order, he must be the first to emerge from the wave of war-weariness and work weariness which threatens to engulf us. There is a great opportunity in this for chemists. Let us take it greatly. The CHAIRMAN said that the report of Mr. Palmer referred to by Dr. Levinstein had actually been written by Mr. J. H. Choate. It was an extremely valuable account of the history of what the Germans had done, not merely during the war, but prior to the war, in order to establish themselves in America, not only as regards industry and commerce, but also more particularly in the matter of diplomatic advantages. ROYAL INSTITUTION.-On Tuesday next, Jan. 27, at 3 o'clock, Prof. G. Elliot Smith begins a course of three lectures on the "Evolution of Man, and the Early History of Civilisation." On Saturday, Jan. 31, Sir Frank Watson Dyson, the Astronomer Royal, delivers the first of three lectures on the "Astronomical Evidence bearing on Einstein's Theory of Gravitation"; and on Thursday, Feb. 5, Prof. A. E. Conrady commences a course of two lectures on "Recent Progress in Applied Optics." The Friday Evening Discourse on Jan. 30 wil be delivered by Mr. S. G. Brown on the "Gyrostatic Compass," and on Feb. 6 by Sir Walter Raleigh on "Landor and the Classic Manner." Thursday, January 29. Royal Society, 4.30. "The Genetics of Rogues' among Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Cardiff, at 6. Man- Royal Institution, 9. Sidney G. Brown. "The Gyrostatic Compass," by Saturday, January 31. Royal Institution, 3. "The Astronomical Evidence bearing on Einstein's Theory of Gravitation," by Sir Frank W. Dyson. Assistant Chemist required. Thoroughly ex perienced in Analysis of Iron and Steel Works Materials. State experience and salary required.-Address, F. E., CHEMICAL NEWS Office, 16, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street, London, E.C. 4. Assistant Chemist required for Analytical and Research Work in connection with Iron and Steel manufacture. Thorough training in Chemistry and Physics essential. State age, experience, and salary required.-Address, "C.I 2," CHEMICAL NEWS Office, 16, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street, London, EC 4. Gen eneral Manager wanted for large Cement Works in India. Must be fully qualified Mechanical Engineer, preferably with experience in the management of Cement Works, and be able to supervise construction. Salary up to 1500 Rupees per month for suitable man. Three years' agreement will be entered into, with passage out and home, unfurnished quarters, light, fuel, and electric fans will be supplied free.-Address, "C.W. 15," CHEMICAL NEWS Office, 16, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street. London, E.C. 4. Wanted, Junior Analyst to assist in the Ex amination of Raw Materials and General Stores in Laboratory of large Works near London. Applicants must have had previous experience and be trained competent Analysts. State experience and Street, Farringdon Street, London, E.C. 4. salary required.-Address, P.B., CHEMICAL NEWS Office, 16, Newcastle THE following abstracts from a recent important report I should show that German agriculturists had faith in the s claims they made for electric power and lighting on the C farm. (Report to Board of Agriculture and Fisherfes, by J. H. Cabell, 1913). The writer states that "the use of electric light and power has spread with striking rapidity in the agricultural districts of Germany in recent years.' And he adds the further statement that in "Saxony electricity was used to a far greater extent hy small and medium holders than by large holders." The most striking lesson we can draw, however, from a study of the application of electricity to agriculture in societies sometimes purchase surplus power from private undertakings which manufacture electricity for their own use. In this country, which is comparatively thickly populated, and where the distances to be traversed are not so great, the provision of electricity in rural districts is a much simpler undertaking than its provision in the rural districts of Germany, and the author feels that if steps were taken to promote a co operative movement in this country for the supply of electricity in these districts considerable progress would be made. There are over 428,000 farms of from 5 to 300 acres each, and averaging 60 acres, in the United Kingdom, and it is estimated that to operate these electrically would consume not less than 4,000,000,000 units per annum, or as much as is generated altogether by the whole of the electricity supply undertakings of England and Wales. This in inself is a striking fact, and indicates to some extent the importance of this load from the point of view of the supply authorities. Apart altogether from the question of electricity supplies, much has been achieved in many districts in Germany by combination among the farmers, and the interests especially of the small and moderate landowners have been substantially advanced by means of the cooperative system. In these countries co-operation might even go further than in Germany, and provide the portable electrical apparatus necessary for use at the farm, this being passed on from farm to farm as the work is completed, as is at present done with threshing machines. A FIG. 13.-ELECTRIC PLOUGHING ON THE SINGLE WINDER SYSTEM, SHOWING CABLE GUIDING CARRIAGE. Germany lies in the manner in which the thinly populated | rural districts secured the advantages of a cheap supply of electricity. This was done in the main through rural Co-operative societies, and the growth of these societies in recent years reads almost like a romance. In 1901 there was one such society; in 1909, 82; on January 1, 1910, 257; on January 1, 1911, about 340; and in 1913 the number had increased to between 600 and 700, or more than the total number of public electricity supply under takings in the United Kingdom. considerable future should lie in front of co-operative endeavour of this character. Some of these societies produced electricity themselves; some bought electricity in bulk, and distributed it over their own distribution system; while others still only combined to guarantee a certain consumption, and thus secure cheap current from the supply authority. It is worthy of note that in remote districts where the erection of a central station might not be justified, the Reprinted by permission from the Journal of the Royal Society of Arts. The problem is of interest, too, to the manufacturer of electrical machines, and unless some steps are taken to meet the growing demand for machines designed for the technical conditions of agricultural work, the country will lose a good deal of this type of business abroad. In the Argentine, Australia, Canada, and Russia, not to mention China, there are many millions of acres that will need cultivation and transport facilities in the immediate future, and the provision of the necessary equipment is work one would like to see done here. In this connection we may recall the very considerable assistance the Royal Agricul tural Society gave in the development of the steam plough, and also in the development of the internal combustion engine, particularly through the trials held at the Society's shows and the valuable prizes offered for the best designs of apparatus. It would not be easy to over-estimate the help similar |