Omaha daily bee., 1915-06-06
GENERAL WORTLEY
MAKES STATEMENT
British Officer Describes Effect Pro.
duced by Chlorine Gas Used by
the Germans in Battle.
DEATH IS SLOW AND PAINFUL

Correspondence OF the Associated PSess.) !
a. NEW YORK. May s1.-A letter from
lhsjor General Edward Stuart wortiey |
commander Of British army corps in
France, is made public here by his
brother, Ralph stuart-wortley OF New
York, giving this distinguished officers
tribute TO the behavior of a Canadian
division in France, ana describing the
horrors which resulted from the use of
asphyxlating gases by the Germans.
The effect OF these gases upon the
men who inhale them" he says. has
been TO turn all the tissues OF the lungs
into liquid, and during the two days that
It takes for the men 30 die the victims
are the most hopeless. helpless, sicksn-
ing sight imaginable" The letter fol-
lows;
Effect of the Gas.
you will of course have read OF the
fighting that has been going on round
Ypres just lately, and OF the masniff>
cent behavior of the Canadian division.
IN their attack on the Ypres salient the
Germans made use of asphyxiating gases.
This gas is disseminated both in shells
and bombs and also from cylinders " hich
are buried in the trenches with their
nozzles pushed through the pa-apcts!
The taps Of the cylinders are then turned
on and the gas, which is as far ns we
know. chlorine, is pumped out The gas.
which Is heavier than air, and which is
blown by the wind across our lines. sinks
into our trenches and Kills or incapacI-
tates any men who happen to be in them.
The effect of the gas can also be felt
as far back as five or six miles and pro-
duces headache and a smarting of the
eyes.
Defense of Acts.
''The German papers as well as falsely
. accusing us of making use of poisonous
fumes, apparently defend their conduct
by stating that the dissemination of this
gas results in a swift and painless death
for those with whom It comes in contact.
and consequently is less barbarous than
subjecting men to an inferno OF shen
fire from which great physical and men
tai torture must necessarily be endured.
II am sure the public cannot have as
yet the slightest idea of this last dam
nable effort on the part of the Germsns
to disregard all laws of humanity and
civilization.
Il have seen our men in hospital after
having been brought back from the
trenches. There is no need to ask for
tho ward IN which they are, as their
groaning is quite sufficient direction
of itself. In one ward there are eighteen
cases. They are ell sitting bolt upright,
or swaying back and forward, gasping
for breath; their faces. hands and neSn
a shiny gray-black color their eyes
glazed and unable absolutely to speak or
feed. =
Dying for Two Days.
1T takes two days for these men to
die. During these two days. they are In
the most acute agony, and n by the
slightest chance they recover from Che
poison they will in all probability be rem
dered useless for life, as the effect OF
the gas is to turn all the tissues Of the
lungs into liquid. The doctors and nurses
are working day and night in the at
tempt to give some relief. But there Is
nothing to be done. IT is the most hope
less helpless, sickening sight mag
Unable. Our medical officer, who has
had a large experience or the habits of
African and Asiatic natives, tells US that
ir all his life he never has had to deal
with such an example OF scientific tor
tUre.
At first was inclined TO disbelieve
the accounts of the ill-treatment OF our
prisoners at the hands of the enemy and
to put them down to the inevitable ex-
aggerations of warfare. but now that
have come face to face with German
methods in the field my opinions have
undergone q gradual but permanent
change"