American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-09-25
EXAMINATION Is MADE
OF NEW GAS SHELLS
Entire Town in France Literally Poi
sOned by Latest German Invention
Loss OF Sight Followed by swollen
Eyelids One OF the Results.

l4WNN VI 1A-ni AbAAbWtN ~ t1HNtAtA
Eyelids One OF the Results.
Further details have been obtained
about the new gas shells which the
Germans are now using, and their ef-
feet upon the persons who breathe
the fumes.
Armentieres is the first town in the
annals of history to have been literal
ly poisoned to such a degree that its
civil population has had to be re-
moved lest it should be entirely de-
stroyed
While heavy shells We're rained on
the houses, forcing the people to take
refuge in the cellars, multitude OF
small shells, not powerful enough to
smash a pavement stone, fell every
where. in street and courtyard and
garden. These shells contain no gas
or powder. but a colorless liquid which
spreads over the ground. Only very
slightly volatile the liquid leaves
traces for hours after the shell has
exploded. 1t evapOrates very slowly,
producing a heavy gas which filters
downward and reaches the cellars
where refuge has been sought.
This gas. remarkably tenacious, has
made more victims among women than
among men, because it penetrates the
hair and remains there, while tobacco
smoke has proved an unexpected pro-
lection for men, The Odor is described
by some as recalling acetylene, by
others as resembling mignonette, but
the majority say it is like hot mus
tard 1t takes some time to produce
it's effects.
Inhabitants Of Armentieres who have
breathed its emanations in the morn
ing. when walking in the town, have
been able to return home without feel
ing any effect. but five or six hours
later they have been obliged to go to
bed and their condition has rapidly
become serious.
The bronchial tubes are affected
first. the eyelids become swollen, and
little by little the sight is lost All
the mucous membranes are attacked
and the body seems on ire inside,
while burns (Which doctors described
as of the second degree') cover all
1.-THE skin. Continuous coughing sets
lin. with a fever temperature, the skin
becomes dull and sickly and the af-
Fiction proves fatal in many cases.
A British army medical officer. pro-
ltected by a mask. exposed himself TO
the gas for a quarter of an hour as an
experiment. and was burned all over
the body except where the mask pro-
tected his head and on the wrist,
where the strap of his watch offered
protection.
Father Camelot. dean of Saint-Vaast
at Armentieres, was poisoned, little by
little. as he performed his sacred du-
ties. The town since November, 1916.
: has been reduced to a single parish
and Father Camelot took charge Of it,
, wishing" as he said. ito remain
there as long as single soul re-
I NAMED" He is the fifth priest of
! Armentieres to be a victim Of the war
, The British army medical service
is making every effort to analyze the
liquid thus used for producing this
gas. Its emanations have an analogy
! with the tear-producing gas, which
blinds for a time, but the effects OF
: the new poison are infinitely more Sc
we're.
French investigation of the liquid
tends to show that it is not new
thing, but a mixture of sulphide and
i chlorine. already studied and known
y but never before used in this manner
The proportion of deaths to the num-
= Der of people affected is not high, not
- one per cent LOE the AOtlH6Au II toW HS
8 but the number of people affected may
= be very great
4 L The public has been advised that
y if, during an air raid, the smell Of mus
tard essence is noted, to move to the
> upper stories and to breathe through
: a compress soaked with a certain so
, luton Women have been told tC
: wrap their hair in a wet cloth. Saw
: dust, or earth should be thrown
g on any of the liquid that may be seer
T, before it has evaporated. the authOri
y ties have warned and finally, if any
serious case arises and no doctor is al
! hand. vomiting should be produced
as rapidly as possible and then large
1 quantities of milk should be drunk.