The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-08-11
ADVOCATES ARMOR
FOR FIGHTING MEN
London Newspapers Urge England to
Adopt Use Of Helmet and Breast
plate. Revival OF the Ancient.

London, July 20.-The London news
papers are urging upon the British
Government the advisability of adopt
ing the steel helmet. as we'll as some
simple form of protective breast arm
er. for the troops in France and Fland-
crs. France, Russia and Germany
have been experimenting along this
line for some time, and France has re-
Gently definitely adopted light steel
helmet, suggesting in design the head
piece worn by men-at-armS six CEN
turiCS ago.
"Ono of the most remarkable rca-
lures OF this war" remarks the Times.
mas been the return to older, if not to
ancient, methods. The steel fort has
been discreditcd and the earthwori
Justified; the strength and direction of
the wind has become leading factor
once again, as it was in the days OF
bows and arrows. since aeroplanes are
affected by the wind and gas attacks
determined by it; hand grenades,
bombs and catapults have assumed
real Importance. Finally the question
Of armor for the lighting man himself
has come up for consideration"
The value Of light protective ar
NOR is attcsted in several recent arti-
cIes in the British medical journals.
Dr.. Devraigne, French army surg
con- discusses in the Lancet the re-
suit Of his tests of the new French
helmct and gives it his unqualified en-
helmet" he says, escaped light
wounds Of the head, and even wounds
that would in ordinary circumstances
have been severe are greatly mitigat-
Cd. The helmet frequently turns Off
thc bullet. in other cases dents or stops
it, while in other cases it is pcrforat-
cd but acts as 4 heavy drag upon the
force of the prOjcctiie SO that hair and
dirt are not driven into the tissues Of
the head"
Dr. \. J. Hewitt, chief surgeon Of
| the warship pagasus in her fight With
the Kocngsbcrg, writes in the .Journ-
al Of the Royal Medical Service urg-
ing the adoption of some kind Of pro-
| tcctive armor by the navy. One Of the
remarkable features Of the wounds
which came under his observation. he
says, was the smaller penetrating
powc' of the fragments OF proiectilcs
The danger zone so far as life was
concerned seemed to be confined to :;
| small area around tho bursting space,
and though the initial velocity OF the
diminished rapidly, perhaps owing to
their irregular shape.
One seaman" writes Dr. Hewitt
had his right arm SO shattered that
complete amputation was necessary
but 4 fragment Of the same shell hit
tho brass buckle of his belt, breaking
it. but not even bruising the abdomen
Small fragments were also The cause
Of the loss Of four eyes, but am Of tn,
| opinion that pair Of motor goggles
would have saved all these. \ case
Of injury to the juglar vein caused BY
a minute particle Of shell probably
could have been stopped by liner
collar.
In ny opinion a coat OF light chain
armor, or even leather with pair OF
goggles made from tOughcncd motor
screen glass would be invaluable tC
captains Of dcstroycrs, navigators anc
others in exposed positions who arc
likely to encounter ships armed will
similar guns.
Dr. Dclormc, medical inspector gen
cral Of the French army, believes thai
protective armOr would cause a mark
cd decrease in the large number OF
minor wounds which have serious &c
suits owing to the development Of in
lection. eli is infection through hair
shrcds of hcadgcar, soilcd bullets, ir-
regular dressings etc." he says 'tha'
makes minor head lcsions so danger
Ous and causes q mortality varying
| from - TO u per cent