Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-08
TRAINING AMERICANs
: MUSE OF CAS- MASKS
Men Looking Forward to Expert
ments With Greatest Pos
sible Interest.
GIVES TOUCH OF ADVENTURE
To Be Put Through Mixture Of Deadly
Vspor Several Times Stronger
Than Ever Will Be Encountered
Upon Fields Of Battle.

AMERICAN TRAINING CAMP IN
FRANCE. August 1.-THE Issuance OF
French gas masks to the American
soldiers has brought them a little
nearer to the realization of their
proximity to real warfare. The men
arc looking forward to the gas ex-
perimcnts with the greatest possible
Interest. as giving a touch OF adven-
ture to their training. When the 80
called gas house Is completed, the
men will be put Trough a mixture OF
a deadly vapor several times stronger
than will ever be encountered upon
tho field of battle.
Some German prisoners have claimed
that in their training they have en-
durcd periods Of from nve to ten
minutes in a gas mixture nifty times as
strong IA could possibly be maintained
in An open-air attack. The men are
put through these intense mixtures to
demonstrate to them that with proper
caro- and use of their equipment they
cannot be hurt by any gas likely to
be encountered in the front-line
trenches.
1t is a most important branch of
the modern training of a soldier that
he should be convinced that there are
many methods OF effectively dealing
~ II VI lIGE
day warfare; that careless. slovenly
and unheedinE soldiers are the ones
nrst to succumb. 1t is even demop-
strated to the soldiers that the terrify-
Ing liquid fire can be avoided except
In most extraordinary circumstances.
such as being caught in 4 tunnel or
In = dusout with the enemy in such
a position that he can pour flames
through tho entrances.
FULL INSTRUCTION
TO be GIVEN EACH MAN
In training the Americans regard
ing gas. the greatest weight is to be
laid on demonstrating to Zach man
tho valuo OF his protective appliance,
and seeing that he is fully instructed
in It's prope use. He will be made to
realize. however. that only by skillful
and rapid adjustment of the mask can
protection be assured. and that It shall
DO a daily task with him to SEQ that
his appliance ie In good condition. Fit
must be assured. for otherwise the gas
pcnetrates through every hole and at
lacks the eyes and mouth SO that in
a short time tho man is put out Of
action.
Lectures on gas arc being arrange
nrst for the officers. then for the men.
for In gas training. officers have to
go through identical drills and expert
ences. Ten seconds will be the out
side limit allowed for tho adjustment
of helmets after the gas alarm has
been sounded. The increasing use of
gas shells, even from the longest range
guns. makes the carrying Of masks
far back OF the line an imperative
military necessity. The first traces of
gas poisoning arc a hot mouth and
irritation OF the throat. Despite proof
that the allies have SO often produced
to tho contrary. and the terrible deaths
allied soldiers died when this hideous
mode OF warfare was first sprung upon
u~nsuspectinE foes by the high COM
mand OF the German army, private
soldiers and Germans say the gases
are so-called smelling substances
and are not poisonous. The sub
stances. they assert. exert Supplying
action. and after long exposure have
an a~sphy1iating effect Under their
influence vision is affected. A man
subjected to IT Is forced TO close his
eyes In a few seconds, and can OBJ
serve nothing. Germans naively ad-
NIT, however. that "it Is Impossible
to remain in these gases without pro-
lection" b..
The exact nature of the composition
OF practically all Of the German gases
Is, known to the allies. and the Ameri-
cans are obtaining, Immediately tho
full results and benefits Of all this