Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1917-09-13
HENRY DONS A HELMET
READY FOR THE FRONT
Letter From Henry J. Allen In Wich-
ita Beacon.

Paris, Aug. 26.-War seems near
er to us than it has at any time since
we arrived. This isn't because o.
ANYTHING that has happened in Paris
This has been for the two days We
have lived in it the most grotesque-
~ peaceful town I've ever seen. The
dark quiet of the nights is restful
beyond any night life I've ever known
in any city.
Nevertheless, l realize we are to
witness the tragic drama that has
taken its colossal toll of France for
three years. We've been ordered to
the front tomorrow. AS / look
around my bedroom in this beautiful
ly appointed hotel ! see my heavy
hobnailed shoes, my leather puttees,
my uniform, for all who go to the
front must have reason which en-
titles them to wear a uniform. Then
there is a thing on my bed that fair
~ makes me SILVER when ! look at it
"a gas mask It's the most fright
full thing to gaze at. When | put it
on | look like some impossible gar
goyle. For the next five days I'm to
wear it hung about my neck ready
for instant adjustment in case we en-
counter gas. m also to have steel
helmet to protect my scalp from any
stray pieces Of shrapnel or spent bull
let's.
1t is said that these steel helmets
have reduced by SO per cent the head
wounds of this war.
The gas mask is indispensable. 1t
is said that in some parts of France
and Belgium the entire civil popula-
ton is supplied with them. OF all
the unspeakable cruelties of this war
the gas is probably the most inhu-
man manifestation. Both sides are
using it with growing efficiency. You
never know when you are to encoun-
ter it in some terrible and heretofore I
unknown form. One new wrinkle in ,
vented by the Germans is called
mustard gas by our soldiers.
While it cannot get behind the mask
it is SO stpng that it permeates the
clothing. Whenever a mans body
becomes moist from perspiration or
rain the gas attacks him and burns
eff his skin. The British have made
a gas the purpose of which is to COM
pei the enemy to remove his mask.
II is a powerful emetic gas. 1t afflicts
the Germans with nausea, SO that
they cannot keep their mouths COW
cred. If they uncover their faces for
six seconds, the amount of inhalation
is fatal They die at once, or as is
sometimes the case, "A hours later,
from heart failure We are told that
the Germans declare the use of this
gas unfair on the part of the British.
Men laugh when they tell it.
AS l write this ! seem as far away
from the awful front as ! did in Kan
sas City l had been told that Paris
was full OF horrors, that grief-strick- {
en- women pale children and crippled
men were ON all the streets l spent ,
the first day walking about Paris.
Out of the thousands of men | saw
but three who had been crippled, two {
of these had lost an arm each, one
had lost his leg. The second day q
when / visited the tomb of Napoleon
| found several wounded men sitting Y
about the windows of the Hotel les d
Invalides. ! saw no weeping wo- c
men or starving children. As / cross i
ed the garden little lad of 9 years L
asked me for money. He was well a
dressed, well fed, and my French Q
pleased him very much. He was the s
happiest beggar l ever saw and the 5
only one I've seen in Paris. h
The cafes fill up at Z o'clock and n
'un full blast until $50, when the Z
id goes on and the people disappear
Is if by magic, and again from Z to g
$3.50 p. m. They can buy wines and s
leer at any time.
The people are we'll dressed, they b
ieem to have all they wish to eat A