The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-05-06

taken by surprise. Some got away ~
time. but many, alas, not understand
ing the new danger. were not so for
tunate and were overcome by the
fumes and died poisoned. Among those
who escaped nearly all cough and split
blood, the chlorine attacking the mu
cous membrane. The dead were turned
black at once.
Rush Followed Fumes.
The effect of this poisonous gas was
felt over about six kilometers OF
ground In length by two kilometers
deep. Farther than that h gas was
too much diluted with air to Kill. but
s~uffocated many.
About fifteen minutes after letting
the gas escape the Germans got out
of their trenches. Some of them were
sent on In advance with masks over
their heads to ascertain If the air had
become ~breathable.
Having discovered that they could
advance, they arrived in large numbers
on the area on which the gas had
spread itself some minutes before and
took possession OF the arms of the dead
men. They made no prisoners. When
ever they saw a soldier whom the
fumes had not quite killed they snatch
ed away his rifle and threw it In the
User and advised him ironically to lie
down Ito die better"
These were not asphyxiating bombs
that the Germans used They were big
REINFORCED steel bottles of gas, com
pressed at high pressure. which The
Germans placed on top of their trench
es, and of which they opened the taps
when ii seemed to them that the wind
coming from behind them would car
~ on the poison to the enemy's
trenches.
May Kill Own Men.
1t is possible that the use of theft
own chlorine gas may II day turn
against the Germans themselves.
Should the wind veer suddenly they
would be the first victims of their at
tempt. he concludes.
In a special article on the German
successes neal Ypres. the Frankfurter
Zeitung says:
1T Is indeed possible that our bombs
and shells rendered 1t impossible for
the enemy's troops to remain in their
trenches or artillery positions.
ut is even probable that, In point
of fact. projectiles emitting poisonous
gases were employed by US. for the
German army command has permitted
no doubt to exist that, as a reply to the
treacherous projectiles Of the English
and French. which have been constant
ly observed for many weeks. we on
our side also would employ gas bombs
or whatever one may call them.
1.-THE German army command. more
over, referred TO the fact that from
German chemistry considerably more
effective substances might be expect
ed, and our army command was right
A Dutch correspondent telegraphs
that certain Germans have confided t.
him that the Germans intend to con
tinue the use of asphyxiating gas and
expect that 1t will prove their fina
means of victory.
Calls II Last Crime.
The Paris Temps in commenting on
this latest innovation calls the use OF
asphyxiating gas the last crime left
for the Germans to perpetrate and says
they will stand dishonored in history
because of 1t.
The German official explanation Il
that The Hague convention ruled
against the use Of ~asphyxiating pro
~jectlles and that therefore the conven
ton was not abused. They say thal
the German troops did not fire sucf
bombs.
In this explanation the Temps finds
hypocrisy and duplicity. because. II
says. The Hague Introduction was no
aimed at any special engine for. spread
ing asphyxiating gas. but against thu
use of asphyxiants in general.
Ii half of what has been said OF The
efficacy Of the Turpin a%sphyxiatini
shells is true. says the journal de-
Debats. there Is no doubt that France
viii be able to make war with these
latest methods on n certain equality
with her enemies.