Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-19
BACK TO OLDEN METHODS
Some Are Advocating the Return to
Days Of Helmet and Armor
Plate.
lessons EFFECTS OF SHELLS


cCorrespondence OF the Associated Press)
LONDON, Aug. s-'rhe Loudon news-
papers are urging upon the British gov
eminent the advisability Of adopting the
steel helmet. as well AZ some simple
form Of protective breast armor' for the
troora in France and Fienders. France,
Russia and Germany have been expert
Incnting along this line for some time.
and France has recently definitely
adopted a light steel helmet, suegesiing
in desg gn the headpiece worn by men-at-
arms six centuries ago.
"one OF the most remarkable features
OF this war" remarks the Times. has
been the return to older. ~ not TO ancient.
methods. The steel fort has been dis
credited and the oarthwork justified. the
strength and direction OF the wind has
become a LEADING factor once again, as II
was In the days OF bows and arrows.
since aeroplanes are affected b. the wind
and gns attacks determined by Il; hand
grenades. bombs, and catapults have as
suned real Importance Finally, tho
question OF armor for the fighting man
Himself has come up for consideration"
Lessons the wounds.
The value Of light protective afnor
Is attestcd In several recent articles IN
the Britisn medical journals. DIT. Dew
raigne, a French army surgeon, discusses
in the Lancet the result OF his tests Of
the new French helmet and gives Il his
unqualified endorsement. ''The soldier
who wears q helmet" he says, escapes
light wounds OF the head and even wounds
that would IN ordinary circumstances
have been severe are greatly mtigated.
The helmet frequently turns off the bull
lot. IN other cases dents or stops II, while
in other cases II IL perforated but acts
~ heavy DRAG upon the force Of the
projectiie 80 that hair and dirt are not
driven into tho tissues OF the head"
Or. A. j. Hewitt, chief surgeon OF the
warship Pagasus in It's fight with the
Soenigsberg. writes In the Journal OF the
Royal Medical Service urging the adop-
ton of some kind OF protective arnor
by the navy. One Of the remarkable
features OF the wounds which came under
his observation. he says. was the smaller
penetrating power Of the fragments OF
projectiies In open spaces like the upper
deck The danger zone 20 far as life
was concerned seemed TO be confined 70
a small area around the bursting space.
and though the initial velocity OF the
fragments seemed 10 be very great Il
diminished rapidly. perhaps owing 10
their irregular shape.
saved NJ BELT Buckle.
zone seaman,' writes DIR. Hewitt. had
his right arm 20 shattered that complete
amputation was necessary. but a frag-
ment OF the same shell hit the brass
buckle OF his belt. breaking Il. but not
even bursting the abdomen. Small frag-
ments were also the cause OF the loss
Of four eyes. but / am OF the opinion
that a pair OF motor goggles would have
saved all these. A case OF injury 70 the
jug1fIar vein caused by a minuto particle
Of she'll probably could have been stopped
by a linen collar. eh lf. f
I'm my opinion coat OF light chain
amor. or even leather. with q pair Of
goggles made from toughened screen
slass, would be invaluable 70 captains Of
destroyers, navigators. and others In ex-
posed positions who are likely 10 en-
counter ships armed with similar guns'
DR.. Delorme. medical inspector general
Of the French army. believes that pro-
tective armor would cause a marked de-
crease In the large number OF minor
wounds which have serious results owing
70 the development Of infection. 1T IL
infection through hair shreds Of head
gear, solled bullets, irregular dressings,
etc." ne says. that makes minor head
LESSONS 50 dangerous ana causes a NOR
taiiiy varying from u 70 81 per cent"