Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-07-18

~ ~ II. 90 "ltahfh IA npdt ~
whisper Of late. His friends have no.
ticed il and have expressed their re
grcts at his very bad cold. Colonel Cos
by's voice has not permitted him 10 re-
ply and h. has let it 60 al that-a cold.
Bur il was not a cold.
The use which the German army has
made Of poison in the present. war has
brought a new and terrible element Of
destruction into military science. Just
what this terrible new agenyy is. what
part il plays in the offensive and de-
fensiye ta,t les, and 10 what extent il
any il must be reekonctl with ~ "A per
mancnt element in future warfare
these are problems which the m%iiitary
experts throughout the world are irving
10 determine Here in France where
the poison gas has been used with most
deadly effect in Champagne. .Argonrc.
and all along the fighting line. il raw
ages have been particularly apparent :.
and the military attaches Of many roun-
tries have been active in securing data
for their governments on this new agency
,biplfI 'b~DN NhdiFi Nv NH it'f
est Of his brother military investigator
and ia One respect hc vent far h"yon
them. There was ample data, from III,
battlcficlds aud the hospitals. where
CHASTITY patients were a living witness
Of the cllests of the new element l;nt
Colonel Cosby determined on 4 direct
personal investigation ~ the elcmrr, H.
IL n -. u- ~. IN L. T.r,a-
just as "a medical scientist has n times
Imt some new serum 10 the supreme 'cst
ON himself.
But YOU should he warned OF the cx-
RENE risk, said the chief scientist. 1T
is very dangerous matter OF life and
death.
Yet against the warning was the feel
ing that a mysterious agency of warfare
needed 10 be explored 60 its very end.
And So the word was given 10 90 ahead
and the official wheels turned swiftly in
bringing together all sorts Of gas. fresh
and powerful, from the nearby fighting
fronts. /
The facilities for such a test of the
gases were not easily obtained. But
these were at least secured and the mil
itary attachc was the first and only one
10 be- granted eX. optional facilities.
With these prcliminaricS arranged. Col
onel Cosby found himself in the presence
at long lines Of bottles. ranged on shell
YES. much as in a chemists shop. Sur
lcens and white CARRIED attendants and
chemical experts were about. with pes
tie and mortar, vacuum pumps and air
tight jars. making experiments and tests
al gases and antidotcS. Near nv hung 4
line of gas masks. with gaping eye holes
used 10 counteract the poisonous fumes.
The large bottles contained the vari-
Gus forms Of liquid gas. direct from
the front. and in varying degrees Of
strength. Most Of them showed a VIOLA !
tile yellowiSh liquid whfrh on being cx-
posed 10 the air gave of the deadly
gases which have wrought such havoc.
There were three distinct groups 81
these gases. first. those bursting into
flame AMI commonly known as liquid
flame. second. the tcas producing gases
which do not Kill or permanently maim
but which So blind 4 column of ~ rush
ing troops that they become helpless
aud are brought 10 a halt; AMI. third.
the actual poison gas which Suilocate>
and kills with ten times The horror of a
bullet or she'll. This last. il l. the be-
lief of militar experts. il a barbirism
If warfare which must he ultimately
banned 10y the universal sentiment Of
civilization. But they are equally of the
belief chat the lesser forms Of gas
which do not Kill but merely interrupt
the forward progress If an attack-arc
"A permanent element of defensive mill
tar, strategy which must he taken into
consideration i'm future warfare.
This j. the least deadly" explained
the chief chemist aS he presented one of
the bottles containing the inilammatory
gas. lie drew the glass stopper very
r%autiouSly aud colonel Cosby ooh a
slight Whit of the gas. II was not over
towering or violent in it> cffcct-only 4
pungcnt odor of ether. Now the second
class Of gases VAS reached the tear
producing cases-aud these too were
tested in the same way. These also were
not ov%erpowering. hut gave the same
sharp olor If ether and a p%erceptiblc ef-
feet on the ewes. Colonel Cosby was be 4.
ginning To think the gases were not -
very bad after all.
They had now reached the poison gss
the deadl, gas which clutches and
Kills. The chemist paused.
"You will not try this. he said APP