El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-11-02

WASHINGTON, D. c, Nov. 2.-YOu
w win get but little satisfaction
and almost no detailed Information as
TO the new developments in poisonous
gases as used by the army by calling
on Mai. Gen william I. Sibert. the
director Of chemical warfare I knew
Cen. Sibert wen while he was build
ing the Gatun dam and locks at Pan
ANA He was then free TO talk, and
everything connected with his work
on the canal was SO wide open that
he who ran could read. It is differ
ent now.
The policy OF the army IS such that
the words OF every high official are
carefully measured. and nothing is
given out that could by any posi-
bility be OF advantage to the enemy.
Most OF the information in this
letter. therefore, comes from other
sources suea as the bureau OF public
information at Washington and else
where with the understanding that
nothing be published that could aid
the enemy.
The Use Of Gas.
As 70 the expressions OF Gen. Sibert
himself he tells US that the gas first
used IN cylinders was sent forth in a
cloud, which depended on the direc-
ton and velocity OF the wind as to its
efficiency in poisoning the enemy
Later gas shells we're employed and
the gas was sent forth in barrages
and 70 neutralize the enemy's bat
teries. forcing the men to wear gas
masks during attacks
Next came casing the troops in the
field, including those engaged in
transportation and in bringing up re-
serves and munitions, and this was
followed by hand grenades and other
gas pro1ectiTes, including those sent
forth by high powered guns and mo-
tors Of various kinds, which flooded
the enemy with poisonous air.
The whole has resulted in a great
department Of gas warfare. offensive
and defensive In this thousands OF
chemists are employed making gases
Of various kinds and connected with
u are great Industrial establishments
FOR manufa curing shells and contain
ers and filling them with the liquids
and solids which expand into gas
when exploded
We have also gas troops, who are
experts In the manipulation and re-
pair OF gas munitions and guns and
as TO everything concerning the use
Of gas on the battlefield.
Q. s. Makes Gas Shells.
Gen Sibert says that we have AL the
necessary raw materials for manu-
featuring gas IN quantities and we
are now making gases OF various
kinds and shipping the shells over
the ocean to France. We have labor
atorles IN France which analyze any
new gas sent forth by the enemy. and
4 good reproduce It almost fnstan-
ter This IS possible because some
OF the gas shells are "duds." that is,
they 90 not explode. The material in
them can thus be taken out and ITS
have al the gas weapons Of the en-
envy ana IN addition are inTenting
new ones Of our own
Camps For Gas Troops.
By the time this letter Is published
there VIII have been inauguarated a.
L7lzehursr n J. a camp devoted espe-
ciailT 10 the training OF gas troops. and
e Is now the soldiers Of every canton
ment are taught something as TO these
poisonous gases before they are sent TO
France They are shown that their only
protection from them IS the gas mask. and
are taught how 70 adjust the mask
quickly and wee IT without feeling ham
psred-
The officers. OF each eantonment are
% the kinds OF gas used. IS 10 how and I
where the enemy viii place their cylin- /
ders. as 10 attacks with gas shells, and I
how the gas cloud can be most quickly 4
perceived. and an alarm given 50 that the I
troops may put on their masks
Whistles or horns cannot be heard when /
the heads Of the men are covered with /
masks, and there are special watehuen,s
rattles and a special kind OF horn which ]
Is blown by a tank Of compressed air by
simply turning a wrench It then gives
forth blast that can be heard a mile
Put On Masks, Six Seconds
As Il Is now the standard tine IN which .
the soldier Is expected 70 put on his mask
after The alarm IS given is only six sec
onds- n this time the mask must be
taken out OF ITS knapsack hanging on
the chest and ritted so tightly over the
head that 10 gas can get in
Flappilg Out the Gas
The men are taught also how to de-
tect the gas IN the trenches and to treat 4
Il 90 that it VIII do the least damage.
one OF these methods IS by the use Of flap
Ders which lock like big fly swatters- Each !
napper has a handle about tive feet long. 4
and this ends in q square ian % stiff /
canvas reinforced with braces The fan
is bigger than page Of this newspaper
BY beating the bottom Of the trench /
with this fan and throwing Il well up i
on each blow. air currents are set In i
motion that drive the gases out OF the I
trenches The duEouts have blanket 4
doors that may be dropped when the gas 1
alarm sounds. The gases are taken out 1
BY lighting a fire and letting the draft >