The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-09
GAS USED BY GERMANS DOES
 ITS WORK SLOWLY
Inhabitants of Armentiers Were Compelled to Move in Order to Escape the
 Terrible Fumes

Paris, August -(Correspondence the Associated Press.)-Further de tails have been obtained about the new gas shells which the Germans are now using, and their effect upon the persons who breathe the fumes.
 Armentieres is the first town in the annals of history to have been liter ally poisoned to such degree that it's civil population has had to be re- moved lest it should be entirely de- stroyed.
 While heavy shells were 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 co1orless liquid which spreads over the ground. Only very slightly volatile, the liquid leaves traces for hours after the shell has ex. p1oded. It evaporates very slowly, pro ducing a heavy gas which filters down ward and reaches the cellars where refuge has been sought.
 This gas, remarkably tenacious has more victims among women than among men, because it penetrates the hair and remains there, while tobacco smoke has proved an unexpected pro, tection 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. It takes sometime to produce it's effects.
 Inhabitants of Armentieres who itc ip 4ha morning, when walking in the town, have been able to return home with out feeling 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 mem branes are attacked and the body seems on fire inside, while burns (which doctors describe a of the second degree'') cover all the skin. Continuous coughing sets in, with fever temperature, the skin be. comes dull and sfckly and the affliction proves fatal In many eases.
 A British army medical officer, pro- tected by a mask, exposed himself to the gas for quarter of an hour as an experiment., and was burned all over the body, except where the mask protected his head and on the wrist where the strap of his watch offered protection.
 Father Came1ot, dean of Saint vaast at Arm mentieres, was poisoned, little by little, as he performed his sacred duties. The town, since November, 1916 has been reduced to single parish and Father Camelot took charge of it. wishing as he said, Ito re- main there as long as single soul remained" tHe 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. It's carnations have an analogy with the tear-producing gas, which blinds for time, but the effects of the new poison are infinitely more severe.
 French investigation Of the liquid tends to show that it is not new thing but a mixture of sulphide and chlorine, already studied and known. but never before used in this manner The proportion of deaths to the num- Der of people affected Is not high, not per cent for the northern towns, but the number of people affected may be very great.
 The public has been advised that 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 lution. Women have been told to wrap their hair In a wet cloth. Sawdust sand or earth should be thrown on any of the liquid that may be seen be- fore 1t has evaporated, the authorities have warned; and finally, if any seri- ous case arises and no doctor is at hand. vomiting should be produced as rapidly as possible and then large quantities of milk should be drunk.