New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-28
Wounded Suffer Great
Pain from Effects OF
Asphyxiating Bombs.
CHLORINE FUMES
CARRIED BY BREEZE
Lemon.Colored Smoke from
German Lines STILES Many
in Opposing Trenches.

Paris, April 27.-Thirty- french
soldiers who were snot as they were
leaving trenches near Ypres when the
Germans attacked them with ssphy1ia'-
ing gases were brought to-day 10 the
American Ambulance Hospital. In ad-
dition to gunshot wounds they are SUI
fering from inAamed bronchial tubes
and their eyes are swollen from the
poisonous fumes.
These men say that as soon as they
bresthed the noxious gases released by
the Germans they suffered scutely'
their eyes singing md their throaIs
contracting. Some of the French SOL
diers became unconscious almost I'M
mediately. Others, scarcely conscious,
acted on instinct and, crawling out OF
the trenches, staggered away from
them. The connecting trenches were
so cboked with fugitives who had fal-
len unconscious that many solciers
vera compelled TO climb out and make
their way toward the rear over the
open ground.
some Of the wounded soldiers speak
with scorn of the asphy1iatiag bombs
"Their famous bombs killed nobody,
said one Of them. They just put 70
sleep those who breathed the fumes;
Then the Germans came up and killed
the sleepers. Fortunately, help came
and we finished by smashing them.
Germans Open Fire.
Az soon az the Germans perceived
that the French were leaving their
trenches overground they opened up
an intense rife and machine gun FIRE
along that portion of the front, which
is about three miles in extent. II was
this fire which caught the wounded
brought TO the American Hospital.
These wounded were picked up by
French troops held in reserve, which,
counter attacking, carried the greater
part OF the trenches which had been
evacuated.
The narratives Of the wounded men
differ in some respects. The physl-
clans at the hospital attribute this dl,
vergence to the psychological effects OF
n wholly new experience. Some OF the
patients say positively that the Ger
mans threw bombs which, on exploding,
distributed the gases. The majority,
however. speak Of having observed a
thick lemon colored smoke arising IN
front Of the German trenches and con-
cealing them as though heavy cur
tain had been let down. The gases hung
close over the earth and, propelled by
gentle breeze, crept toward the
French earthworks, scarcely one hun
drcd yards away.
Pneumonia May Follow.
The physicians believe that no per
manc1t harm is likely in the case OF
those who were not stifed to death.
The survivors suffer poignantiy from
inflamed membranes, but will recover
without treatment. In some cases
pneumonia or bronchitis may follow
1t is the opinion of the physicians
that the vapors must have been either
from chlorine or else of sulphurous
nature. 1t is hardly believed that car
bon monoxyde was used, as this gas
cannot be perceived with the eye:
II is evident from the stories OF thu
soldiers that the wind must be precise
ly right to give full effect to the gases
for il released in strong breeze thu
fumes would be dissipated and blowr
about before reaching the OBJECTIVE
point. Meteorological charts of North
ern France show that the prevaillnl
breezes are from the south and. south
west. which would favor the Allie
rather than the Germans in the extern
sive use Of gases.