The Benson signal., 1918-04-27
Ths use OF gas in warfare dates back

Ths use Of gas In warfare dates back
to about 400 B. G. The Spartans sat
urated wood with pitch and sulphur
and burned 1t under the walls Of cities
which they were attacking. For sew.
efal centuries gas has not been used
In warfare, and The Hague convention
definitely ruled against 1t. However,
OH April %. 1915 the Germans Nbsr-
ated great clouds Of gas against Cana.
dian troops near Vpres Terrible de-
struction and Generalization resulted
from this first gas attack, and within
n week England was making plans for
gas warfare against the Germans.
Soon after the first German gas at
tack English and French women sent
to the front hundreds OF thousands Of
homemade gas masks. For the most
part they were merely bandages Inn
pregnated with chemicals to wrap
around the mouth and nose. These
emergency masks saved many lives.
but afforded only limited protection.
Commenting on the decision to regu-
late the consumption of bread In Paris
by means of tickets, reference Is made
by some Of the Paris newspapers to
the success Of the bread card In Switz-
erland, where the bread has been ra-
toned for several months, resulting In
an economy Of As per cent Of the
amount consumed previously.
a 0CYo Vnk oil &nh
person per day Is 25O grams (Which
will soon be reduced to 200 grams).
Each individual card contains a GER
tain number of coupons for $50, 100. so
and Is grams Of bread, amounting in
all to the total monthly allotment.
These coupons may be used whenever
the holder desires, either ut the bak-
er's or Mt restaurant; In fact, guests
In private families are expected to de-
tach from their individual bread cards
the coupons equivalent to the amount
of bread consumed.
More than $1,000 100000 Of war
risk insurance has so far been written,
covering over 100000 persons in the
military and naval services. The aver
age amount Of insurance applied for is
nearly $4,000. The maximum permit
ted Is $4,000, and the minimum ST.
600.
Final figures show the United States
army, both here and abroad, Is we'll
over 80 per cent insured. In many
camps 80 per cent of the personnel Is
protected by government insurance.
The insurance now on the books Of the
bureau is more than three times as
great as the ordinary insurance held
by the largest commercial company In
the world.
All new persons Joining the service
may apply for insurance within 120
days OTTER Joining the colors. Auto
matte insurance ceased for all men.
regardless of enlistment date, on Feb
ruary IL.
An ordnance base that will cost ap+
proximately $25,OOO,O00 is under con.
strnction In France. It will include a
gun-repair plant equipped to refine
more than 300 guns month; large
capacity carriage repair plant; q
motOr-vehicle repair plant capable of
month; a small-arms repair plant to
handle 5000 rifles and machine guns
month; large shop for the repair
Of horse and infantry equipment: a
reloading plant capable Of relOading
about 100000 artillery cartridges q
day.
The ordnance base will include 20
large storchouses IL shop buildings,
100 smaller shops and magazines, and
machine and tool equipment costing
So, 100000. Approximately 450 officers
and 10000 men will be required for
maintenance.
According to an announcements by
Secretary Lane additional parks will
be open to tourists this year on the fol-
lowing dates:
Yosemite. California, May ! to No
vember 1; Rocky Mountain National
park. Colorado, May / to November
L: Sequoia National park, California,
May Is to October 10; General Grant
National park, California, May Is to
October 10; Mesa Verde National park,
Colorado, June / to September 80:
Mount Rainier National park, Washing
ton, June to September 16; Glacier
National park, Montana, June Is to
September 15; Crater Lake National
park. Oregon, July 1 to September 80;
Yellowstone National park, Wyoming,
June rs to September Is.