Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-15
TELLS OF PLANS
FOR PRODUCING
ANYCASMASKS
Details for Overwhelming
German Trenches With
Poison Gas Made Public;
War Stops Plans.

NEW DIX, Zee. lf.-DctdllS Oh
the enormous preparations which
had been made in this country to
overwhelm the German armies with
poison gas were made public yes
terday by the New York section of
the American Chemical society
under the auspices of WHICH a con-
ference of chemical organizations
was recently held at the Chemists
club, New York City. 1t is the be-
lief of military authorities, and en-
cheering chemists as we'll, that the
knowledge that there existed such
facilities for the manufacture of
deadly vapors and protective. de-
vices against them was an impor-
tant factor in the petition of Ger
many for an armistice.
Col, Bradley Dewey, commanding
officer of the gas defense, stated
that in May 1917 the production of
gas masks was started by a group
OF five volunteers. In eight weeks
they had shipped 10000 masks far
inferior to the present type, There
had been produced up to the time
the Huns laid down their arms five
million masks, three million extra
canisters, one half million horse
masks and a large quantity of mus
tard gas suits, gloves, ointments
and antidotes. The production OF
gas masks when hostilties ceased
had reached 10000 day. The 1919
model which the colonel exhibited,
represents revolution in dosi
and overcomes all the discomforts
of the earlier patterns, while eff
ficiency is ten-fold increased. The
officer expressed regret that all
the men at the front could not have
had the latest type before the sign
ing of the armistice.
Arrangements to Make Mustard Gas
Col. Williom H. Walker, COM
manding officer of the Edgewood
arsenal, and a prominent member
OF the society, summarized the
achievements of the gas offensive
program of the government. 1--WE
had" he stated, "on November II of
this year all the facilities for pro-
ducing mustard gas At the rate of
100 tons day, to, say nothing of
our resource for delaging our en-
emies with chlorine, phosgene,
chlorpicin, and nox..vapors pre-
viously unknown to them"
Colonel Walker showed that the
errors of extended Investigations, |
seeking new and improved processes
which caused so much delay in guam
tity output in some other lines of
war activities could not be charged |
against the chemists. From the out
set, he declared, well-known and eff
Gent toxic gases were selected for |
manufacture in effective quantities,
while simultaneously a corps of ex-
pert research workers sought for
improved methods and products. As
a result, there was never a day
when the production of materials
did not exceed the ability to utilize
1t. In fact, large quantities were
shipped overseas in bulk, because
other departments were failing in
their delivery of containers. Fol-
lowing the discovery of improved |
processes of manufacture, more fac
tory units were built, but meanwhile
production by the old methods con-
tinued until the new plants were
ready for operation.
Praises Chemists.
In appreciative words, Colonel
Walker paid tribute to the patri-
otto spirit in which the chemists of
the country, for the most part en-
listed men, had braved the dangers
of the poisonous gas plants, far from
the glamor of the real battlehelds,
and in some cases had made the ST.
preme sacrifice.
He also told Of the cooperation
which he had received from the pri-
vate chemical companies throughout
the country, and as a part return for
their helpfulness, offered to supply
their research laboratories with any
quantities of his poisonous materials
for experimental purposes.
II gas warfare is to hold a per-
manent place in war programs, the
American chemist is prepared.
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