The Washington herald., 1918-02-08
CHEMISTS AID
U. S. AVIATORS
Invent Warm Clothing for
Men in Zero Weather,
Says Holland.

reputation through his discovery OF
a means of controlling the dyros-
cope and who was the inventor OF
the two-button electric switch OF
the bearing torpedo. which for pa
trietic motives he has furnished ex-
clusively TO the United States gov
ernment, notwithstanding tempting
offers which he had received for
the invention from citizens of other
countries, delivered two days ago
an address to the members Of the
Union League Club, Of New York
City. the theme of which was the
gyroscope. as applied to the aero
plane and torpedo. In the course
Of this address, Professor Wood al
luded to some OF the experiences,
full of dangers and difficulties.
which the man who drive the aero
planes high in the air constantly
meet with. These must be over
come IL our ship service is to
secure the desired efficiency. In
vention and science are rapidly per-
fecting the air ship as a machine.
but there remain to be accomplish
ed certain things which will make
the aviator substantially immune
when operating In zero tempera-
NAAC. AhAS vas q euOJCCI
was to be discussed at q meeting
of the experts in aviator construc-
tion at the time of the dedication
of the new Engineers Club, at Day
ton. Ohio.
A few days ago. a visitor at the
Mineola aviation camp on Long Is
land met a skilled air chauffeur
who was a commissioned officer.
He was asked what were his most
trying experiences when he was
two or three thousand feet aloft or
even more. In reply he said that
the worst experience was the numb
ing effect OF cold. as well as high
wind, combined often with severe
rain. The government had not yet
in his opinion, perfected any equip
ment whereby an aviator at zero
temperature facing severe winds
and drenching rain could thoroughly
protect his body. A benumbed avi-
tor inevitably reduces the efficiency
of an airship at least SO per cent
and perhaps more.
The Chemist Service.
This aviator was informed that the
chemists, as In so many other in
stances since the war began. had
oOANCA ZIG pAOOACih Will ALldhC IL
possible to furnish aviators with a
garment that will keep rain out. that
will maintain a comfortable tempera-
ture OF the body. and will protect his
chest from piercing winds. The
proposition was brought to the at
tention OF distinguished chemist
who Is in the service of one OF the
large Industrial corporations and who
was asked IL he could perfect a for
mula by means Of which something
could be applied to a base of cotton
cloth which would furnish a garment
that would be practically indestTuc-
ttbIe, not cracking. as rubber does in
high attitudes, and that would keep
out cold and rain. Not a great deal
of time was required by this chemist
for the solution of the problem. He
worked out a formula which produced
a substance that after having been
applied to a certain kind of cotton
cloth makes garment which Is the
delight Of those aviators who are now
using II, The government has had its
attention called to this garment and
its seems to be likely to receive fa-
vorable attention because it can be
manufactured at very little cost.
Something of this kind must be pro-
lutN u OAE dNAdAlOh bcLNlCt 10 " OC
perfected, for, after all, II is the hu-
man equation which is the most i'm
portant in developing the highest eff
cheney of our areoplanes.
More and more the government at
Washington and many OF the people
are beginning to realize how in
estimably great the service of the
American chemist has been in solving
difficult and yet very important prob
lens which the emergencies Of the war
have created As a chemist has shown
how to secure a substance which, ap-
piled to cotton cloth. will furnish just
the garment needed for aviators when
high in the air. so another chemist
has solved to the satisfaction Of the
government a problem equally impor-
tant. this column a few days ago
repofyNas made of an order placed
by the government for millions OF
pounds Of electrodes which are an es-
sential instrument In the manufacture
of chlorine gas. 1t was evident from
this order that the government ex-
poets to furnish our soldiers in Franco
with unlimited supplies of chlorine gas
which Is to be used whenever oppor-
tunity offers during attacks upon or
by the enemy.
Amfidofe Tor 6as.
The government on the other hand,
has supplied our soldiers, now in
France. and will continue to supply
them with an article which will pro-
tect them from poisonous gases dis
charged at them by the enemy. But
this Is furnished only to the soldiers
who are in the first line trenches.
These first line trench gas masks are
made of rubber. 1t cracks in cold
weather or becomes impaired by hard
usage. The government was anxious
to secure q very great amount OF
gas masks with which our soldiers
In the second line trenches could be
supplied. and representatives of the
government approached the leaders of
one of the great industries OF the
United States in order that it might
be learned whether that industry
could perfect a new kind OF gas mask
suitable for soldiers in the second
line trenches. The leaders in the in
dustries replied. saying that this was
a proposition which the chemists must
answer. It was submitted to one Of
the ablest chemists in the United
States. He worked out a formula
which makes II possible to apply a
substance to q certain weave of cot
ton cloth. Careful Investigation by
the government officers of this mater
ial brought forth the unanimous opin-
ion that It was exactly the material
which Is needed for the soldiers who
will be in the second line trenches in
France.
The government, therefore, placed
an order for considerably more than
q million OF this new kind Of gas