The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-05-07
URGE THAT BRITISH
 USE POISON GAS TOO
Editor and Member of Par lament Demand Repris-
 als on Germany.


 considering the question whether the Allies should employ poison gases against the Germans, according to The Daily Chronicle, which editor ially argues that "it is clear from all the evidence that the German asphyx- iating gases possess serious military | imp portance. and, the enemy will con tinues to use them, probably a growing scale, whenever conditions l are favorable. A new and fornida- bles weapon has been introduced into warfare, and, much, as we may regret | it's introduction and censure the gross 1 breach of international faith by which l it was introduced, neither regrets nor censure will win battles.
 Unless our troops are to feel that l they fight an unfair battle, with one hand tied behind their backs-and that is a feeling which. if justified, might destroy all the morals of even the bravest so1diers-we must fight gases with gases, and do so with the least possible delay. We must arm our front with equipment at least l as deadly as the German gas equip ment, and, if possible dead1ier. This is not a matter to stand arguing about posing pros and cons, whether in Par | 1iament or elsewhere. In justice to l our own soldiers we, need to act, and act promptly; and at the same time | there ought to be rapid a, deve1- | opment as possible of defensive meas 1 ures, not merely for the wearing. of resptrations, but of the spraying of alcohol, ammonia, and other chem icaI agents
 j Every humane person must de- I plore that warfare has entered on this new phase, but we cannot prevent its being entered on; all we can do is to | see that our men are not put~at a | Sa~-- re nna1 weather returns, with the normal preponderance of southwest winds, the enemy may come to be sorry for their own barbarous innovations; but the fact that the Allies are compelled to copy it will not in any sende exoner- ate Germany for having introduced it. nor take the crime of having intro- duced it out of the category of those things for which an account must be duly exactedl at the end of the war;
 The Chronicle prints a letter from a British officer who visited in hos pita1 some of the men who were dis abIed by gas on Hill 60.
 t@rhe whole of England and the civilized worlds'' he says, ought to have the truth fully brought before them in vivid detail, and not wrapped up as at present. When we got to the hospital we had no difficulty in finding out in which ward the men were, as the noise of the poor devils trying to get breath was sufficient to }. direct us. ssi4IsE3 4ZF l
 There were about twenty of the worst cases in the ward, on mat tresses, all more or less in a sitting position, propped up against the walls. Their faces. arms and hands were of a shiny gray black color. With their mouths open and 1eaden-g1azed eyes, all were swaying slightly backward 4 and forward, trying to get breath. It was a most appalling sight-al these poor, black faces struggling for life what with the groaning and the noise of the efforts for breath.
 There is practically nothing to be be done for them except to give them salt and water to try to make them sick. The effect the gas has is to fill the lungs with watery frothy matter, which gradually increases and rises till it fills up the whole lungs and comes up to the mouth; then they < die. It is suffocation. slow drown ing, taking in some cases one or two days. Eight died last night out of twenty saw, and most of the others I saw will die, while those who get pneumonia 'Tt is, without doubt, the most aw- full form of scientific torture. Not one of the men I saw in the hospital had scratch or wound. The Ger mans have given out that it is a rapid painless death-the liars! No torture could be worse than to give them g < dose of their own gas"