New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-07
GAS WARFARE
Both French and Germans Employ
Asphyxiation Without Scruple.

To the Editor of The Tribune
/ Sir: In your issue Of the 10th instant you
publish a letter from Mr.. Richard Norton
reterating the fact that Seven years ego
the Germans had decided 20 fight with gas"
What Mr.. Norton seems to wish to imply
by stating that a gas apparatus captured
from the Germans was dated back as far
! 1903 is, of course. that il was the Germans
who started this dirty way Of fighting" as
he calls it. That is precisely where Mr. Nor
ton is wrong Although the Germans were
! in possession of this powerful weapon, they
refraned from using It until after the Allies
had employed similar contrivances. The first
English complaint of the use of gas is con-
tanned in the statement published by the
British military authorities on April q, while
German official reports stated as far back as
April 10. that the French at Suippes and
Verdun and the English at Ypres had en-
ployed shells, mines and bombs that devel-
oped asphyxating and deleterious gas on ex-
ploding. The report dated April Is contains
the following sentence: The employment OF
bombs diffusing deleterious gases on the part
Of the French is increasing"
French Ministry of War, dated February q.
1915, which was found on French prisoners
and of which l inclOse the French original
is very instructive. Il reads:
"The so-called proiectiles with asphyxi-
ating gases which are manufactured BY our
central works contain liquid which, after
explosion, develop gases irritating to the
eyes, nose and throat. There are two kinds:
hand grenades and cartridges.
"The grenades are egg-shaped; their larg-
est diameter is s en-, their length IL en-,
their weight 400 sr. They are meant TO-
small distances and have a continuance By
means of which they can be thrown by hand.
instructions for use are attached TO them.
They are ignited by rubbing them against a
chemical attached to the instructions, where
upon they must be thrown. The explosion
takes place seven seconds after the ignition.
A small brass cover and screwing stopper
safeguard the explosive from without The
purpose Of the hand grenades is to render
untenable' the vicinity of the place where
they explode. The effectiveness is consider
ably diminished by strong wind.
"The cartridges have a cylindrical shape
/
their weight 200 gr. They are destined for
use at greater distances than the hand gren-
AIDES. Starting at an angle of twenty-five de-
grces, they can be thrown 23O metres. They
have central ignition and are fired By means
Of rocket rifles. The powder ignites small
quantity of combustible matter which ex-
podes the projectile five seconds after leav-
ing the muzzle. The cartridges have the
same purpose as the hand grenades, but be-
cause of the small amount of liquid which
they contain they must be fired in great
quantities.
"The fumes difused by projecticles with
asphyxiating gases are not deadly, at least
not in small quantities and their effect is
only temporary; the duration Of the effect
depends on the atmospheric conditions. 1t
is best, therefore, to attack those trenches
into which such hand grenades have been
thrown and which in spite of this have not
been evacuated by the enemy before the
fumes have entirely disappeared. Moreover,
the storming troops must be supplied With
protective goggles and should be instructed
that the disagreeable sensation in nose and
throat is harmless and does not cause any
permanent disturbances"
Here we have the most conclusive evidence
Of the fact that the French have manufact-
ured in their government shops projectiles
with asphyxiating gases as far back as Feb
ruary. 1915. Their number must have been
very great if the French War Ministry saw
NJ to distribute directions TO the troops con-
corning the use of this new means of war
fare. And yet they proclaim indignation at
the Germans following them much later on
tho path which they have shown.
New York. Nov. II. 1915. K. N. n.