The Nenana daily news. (Nenana, Alaska) 1918-1921, 1918-07-24
BEHIND THE BRITISH LINES


of a recruits training is that which
teaches him how to protect himself
against gas attack. 1t has been
proved that practically complete
security can be obtained against this
latest weapon, but that such secur-
ity is dependent upon previous train
ing. This special training is pro-
vided for every British recruit by
the special "gas schools" established
at convenient points behind the
front. Every recruit must complete
course of instruction here before
he is allowed to take his place in
the front line.
1.-The objects of our training"
said the British officer who showed
The Associated Press correspondent
through one of these schools, ''are
to familiarize the soldier with the
various anti-gas apparatus, and to
fix firmly in his mind the two chief
axioms to be learned in the use of
gas-the first being that careless
ness may mean sudden death, the
second that proper procedure gives
absolute immunity from any i'll
effect"
The gases employed by the enemy
are of two kinds, letha' and nom
lethal. The first class will produce
death if breathed in sufficient guam
titles. The second class include lach-
rymatory or tear gas, and a number
of similar gases used to produce
merely temporary effects. The gases
are employed in two ways, by re-
lease from cylinders when favorable
winds are blowing, or by enclosing
them in shells fired from guns and
trench mortars.
At the gas school the men are
taught to protect themselves against
both forms. Two appliances are used
in the British army. The "box res
pirator," which is the newest and
most important of these, consists
of a flexible mask that fits over
the face. This mask is fitted with
glass windows for the eyes, clip
to cover the nostrils to prevent the
wearer breathing through the nose
and a special mouthpiece fitted with
valve. The mouthpiece admits of
free exhalation, but forces inhala-
ton to take place through tin
box, connected to the mouthpiece by
a flexible tube, and containing the
chemicals that absorb the gas, allow
ing only pure air to pass into the
lungs. The whole device is carried
by every soldier in a satchel slung
over the chest.
The men are trained to put the
appliance into use in a minimum
time. AS soon as they are expert
in the details of fitting the mask
they are put through various drills,
carrying the apparatus. At word
of command, they stop instantly
whatever they are doing and fit the
mask into position. These drills are
continued until a whole company
can protect itself in a few seconds
They are then exercised in CARRY
ing out more complicated drills, in
Guiding prolonged double-quick
marching, with the apparatus in
place, until they are fully accustomed
to working under the inconvenience
caused thereby.
Each man is given a respirator
that fits him perfectly, and which
thenceforth becomes his personal
property. The fit is tested by plac-
ing each man for several minutes in
chamber heavily charged with gas.
If he exhibits any symptoms of dis
comfort at the end of the test, he
must be fitted with new mask.
In order to inspire confidence, he is
later put through the most exacting
tests in rooms filled with the most
deadly gases, from which he suffers
no i'll effecs whatever.
A later step in the gas school is