The Benson signal., 1918-07-27
CHAPTER xxHi-continued.


-19-
A gas helmet Is made of cloth, treat
ed with chemicals. There are two win
dows. or glass eyes, in it. through which
you can see. Inside there is a rubber
covered tube, which goes in the mouth.
You breathe through your nose; the
gas. passing through the cloth helmet,
is neutrallzed by the action OF the
chemicals. The foul air is exhaled
through the tube in the mouth, this
tube being SO constructed that 1t pre-
vents the inhaling of the outside air or
gas. One helmet is good for five hours
of the strongest gas. Each Tommy
carries two of them slung around his
shoulder in waterproof canvas bag
He must wear this bag at all times
even while sleeping. To change de-
fective helmet, you take out the new
one. hold your breath. pull the old one
head. tucking In the loose ends under
the collar of your tunic.
For a minute, pandemonium reigned
In our trench-TOmmieS adjusting
their helmets. bOmberS running here
and there, and men turning out of the
dligOuts with fixed bayonets, to man
the fire step.
Re-enfOrcementS were pouring out Of
the communication trenches.
Our guns crew were busy mounting
the machine gun on the parapet and
bringing up extra ammunition from
the dugOut.
German gas Is, heavier than air and
soon fills the trenches and dugouts,
where 1t has been known to lurk for
two or three days, until the air is puri-
fled by means Of large chemical spray
ers.
We had to work quickly, as Fritz
generally follows the gas with an in
fantry attack.
A company man on our right was
too slow in getting on his helmet; he
sank to the ground. clutching at his
threat, and after few spasmodic
twistings went West (died). 1t was
horrible to see him die, but we were
powerless to help him. In the corner
Of a traverse. little, muddy cur dog,
one Of the cOmpany's pets, was lying
dead, with his paws over his nose.
It's the animals that suffer the most
the horses, mules, cattle, dogs, cats
and rats-they having no helmets to
save them. Tommy does not sympa-
dhize with rats in gas attack.
At times gas has been known to
travel, with dire results. fifteen miles
behind the lines.
A gas, or smoke helmet, as it is
called, al the best Ia vile-smelling
thing, ard it is not long before one gets
violent headache from wearing it.
Our eighteen-pounders were burst
ing In No Mans Land, in an effort, by
clouds.
The fire step was lined with crouch
ing men, bayOnets fixed, and bombs
near at hand to repel the expected at
tack.
Our artillery had put a barrage Of
curtain fire on the German lines, to try
and break up their attack and keep
back re-enforcements.
trained my machine gun on their
trench and it's bullets were raking the
parapet.
Then over they came, bayOnets glis-
tening In their respirators, which
have large snout in front, they look
ed like some horrible nightmare.
All along our trench, rifles and ma
chine guns spoke, our shrapnel was
bursting over their heads. They went
down in heaps, but new ones took the
places Of the fallen. Nothing could
stop that mad rush. The Germans
reached our barbed wire, which had
previously been demolished by their
shells, then it was bomb against bomb,
and the devil for all.
Suddenly my head seemed to burst
from q loud "crack" in my ear. Then
my head began to swim, throat got
dry, and heavy pressure on the lungs
warned me that my helmet was leak
inc. Turning by gun over to No. 2, 1
changed helmets.
The trench started to wind like q
snake, and sandbagS appeared to be
floating in the air. The noise was hor-
rible sank onto the fire step. needles
seemed to be pricking my flesh. then
hlackness.
was awakened by one Of my mates
removing my smoke helmet. How de-
ticious that COOL fresh air felt In my
lnn9v.