The Washington herald., 1917-05-21
Army and Navy News
Best servtee Column In Cfty,

In response TO inquiries from the army
and navy as 20 Information CONCERNING
the best types OF apparatus 10 be used IN
combating noxious gases, the Bureau Of
Mines, Department OF the Interior, which
had such an investigation under way In
behalf OF the miners Of the country. hss
made printed report. with the result
that experts are busily engaged IN de-
signing an apparatus that promises 20 BE-
superior TO any now In use on the Eu-
ropean battlehelds.
The experts Of the bureau, DR.. Ysndeu
Henderson, professor OF physioloRy in the
Yale Medical School, and J. W. Paul. IN
Of Mines. make the statement that the
wearing Of the present types Of oxygen
rescue apparatus involves grave danger,
owing TO the fact that the makers have
as yet failed TO meet satisfactorily GER
tain mechanical and physiological sp-
paratus and suggest ways In which these
may be eliminated
OF Value 10 Army and Navy.
While this report Is primarily OF in
terest to the mining industry and 10
meant as a measure for the Improvement
in the oxygen apparatus used In saving
life at mine disasters" said Van H
Manning. director Of the bureau, 'it
comes at such a time as to be Of great
value to the army and navy in their need
OF apparatus to protect the lives OF their
men N warfare.
In the apparatus now Deing used We
have found a number Of grave defectE
As an Instance OF one Of these serious de-
fects, the manufacturers Of such appara-
tus have directed that the oxygen supply
should be set at a rate sufficient for only
moderate exertion upon the part Of the
wearer. Because Of this rescue crews
have been trained to walk slowly and to
stop and rest at frequent intervals. Nov
ing slowly might mean 10 be crushed and
a vigorous attempt 70 escape would re-
suit in collapse or even ssphyHiation be-
cause Of an insufficient supply OF oxygen
Has Developed an Apparatus
"As the most effective means OF putt
ting into concrete form and Of testing
the feasibility Of the recommendation OF
this report, the bureau has attempted to
develop an apparatus along the physio-
logical lines for which IL calls For some
time W. Z. Gibbs. an experienced me-
chanical engineer. has been at work for
the bureau on this problem. Mr.. Gibbs.
aided by the advice and cooperation OF
the suthon OF this report, has produced
an apparatus which, in experimental
tests, has shown itself superior 20 the
older types, but which still has to be
subjS sted TO further tests in service In
addition, Mr.. Gibbs services have been
rendered TO the military forces for the
development Of an apparatus that viii
be OF value in the trencheA"
When Maj. Gen Leonard Wood took
charge OF the Department OF the South
east at Charleston, s. C.. he announced
the selection OF Atlanta as the main con-
centration camp for the States in his
| district the opening OF an additional
training school for oficers at Fort Moul-
trie on Sullivan Island, near Charles
ton. and the establishment Of probably
| twelve additional camps for the training
OF drafted soldiers and young men not
| Of military age.
Men, munitions and food crops-those
are the three absolute essentish," he
said. and my mission is 60 bring the
South te the fullest cooperation with
! the government that Vhese may be at
| their maximum.
The message 70 the business world is
that business will he bigger and better
| than ever before: the message to the
young man in that their country needs
them right now. not when the battle may
be half lost. The message 20 the man
behind the plough is that IN him rests
the strength Of the nation"