Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1917-10-31
GASES IN THE WAR
ARMY OFFICER DESCRIBES IN.
FERNAL DEVICES USED AND
MEANS TO COMBAT THEM

1t seems that war gases were used
by our ancient warriors. Sulphur
fumes were used sby Spartaus 400 B.
C. The early Greeks had some knOWl-
edge Of this mode of defense, as is
evidenced by their use of combination
Of the fumes of sulphur, pitch and pc
troleum, against their enemies. Our
own Civil War veterans tell us of the
use Of Stink Pots in the days Of
81 to '65. Coming down to our pres
ent European cOnfict, gases were first
used by the Germans in April, 1915,
against the Canadian troops, in the
battle Of Ypres, and likewise our own
government is taking the necessary
steps in preparation for both gas Of
Tense and defense, the ordnance de-
partment having charge Of the former,
and the medical department the lat
ter.
The newer tables Of organization for
the army, provide for a divisional gas
officer who is a medical man, and in
addition every other medical man has
additional duties as a gas officer.
The first gas attacks of the present
war were the cloud attacks. The mode
Of production is like this: Large tanks
Of gas are arranged in the form Of
batteries. From each tank tube is
run over the first line of trenches,
each tube having a stop cock which
when turned Iiberates gas. The sue
cess of the gas cloud attack depends
upon air conditions. Wind must not
be too great, wind with velocity of
four to eight miles an hour being most
favorable.
The evolution of the gas offense has
been rapid, and in addition to the
cloud, gas shells, bombs and hand gre
nades are being used. The gas shells
ordinarily contains seven quarts of liq-
uid enclosed in a lead cylinder, on
the outside of which is a steel jacket.
In fact, from external appearances it
resembles an ordinary shell, and the
method of firing and exploding is the
same Gas shells can be used in
stronger winds than the cloud attacks.
It has been estimated that fully 20 per
cent Of the shells now used by the
Germans are gas shells.
The gases first used in the present
war were chlorine and cuomine, both
acting upon the lungs, and ultimately
in strong concentration causing death
by asphyXiatiOn
Another class of gases act upon
the eyes, the tendency being to blind
the victim, and at the same time nau-
seate him. Paralyzing gases form an
other variety. The most prominent
gas of this class is the deadly Prus-
sic acid gas.
1t seems that the Germans have a
gas. the composition of which has not
been determined by the allies. It's eff
fects are quite similar to strong must
tard, and hence has been called must
ard gas.
The foregoing all deals with gas Of
Tense, now let us consider gas defense.
The first requisite in this line is ample
warning, and consequently an elabor-
ate system has been worked out. Wind
dangers are perhaps Of the greatest
Importance, both as regards direction
and velocity. A "Benfort" vanies en-
ployed for this purpose. 1t is an ordi-
nary weather vane with a little linen
flag on top, dimensions "a inch wide
by inches long, The vane is OPP
Grated by a compass, and the direc-
tons are recorded and reported after
the manner Of the mariner s-16 points
to the compass. The character of the
motion on waving of the little flag de-
scribed above determinates the wind
velocity.
Wind observations are made and re-
ported every three or four hours. Each
small unit makes its report, and pass
es it on to the next higher command.
Areoplanes are used to foretell gas
attac ks, especially of the cloud variety.
Sentries too, often give warning, the
gas cloud giving a certain whistling
sound, and gas shells a peculiar wob-
bling noise.
When a wind report is given as
dangerous, notice is given over a two
mile front. A general alarm is also
sounded by means of a special horn,
similar to a KlaXOn in tone, but Op-
Grated by compressed air. Chains of
these horns extend back to the depth
of nine miles. This applies chiefly to
gas clouds.
The alarm for gas shells is more
limited. Each unit has it's own gas
sentry and gas alarm, which is given
by a shout or other prearranged sig
nal.
Now as to the active protective mea-
sures in actual gas attacks. All trans
ports and troops are halted. Supports
and troops going in and out of dug
outs are required to wear gas masks.
In fact every person and animal at this
stage has a gas mask adjusted At
this point perhaps we best describe
the aforementioned gas mask The
French and English have their own
particular types of masks, while we
Americans have adopted the best
points of both and consequently we
have what is known as the "box mask "
The mask is light in weight, and is
carried in small olive-drab sack
that hangs from the neck. One side
of the bag is filled with tin box In
this box arranged in alternate lay
ers, are charcoal, cotton batting and
soda lime, which neutralizes the
gas and changes it into pure air. The
gas enters the small hole in the bot
tom of the can, goes through the above
filler and comes out of a small rubber
! tube connected with the mouth. All
breathing and exhaling has to be done
! thr0uOh fha mouth Tho nOCfri1c arn