The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-03-28
Inventive Genius of This Country
Again Comes to the Front With
Apparatus Which Minimizes
Gas Effects

Washington. March 2S-American
inventive genius is at the fore again,
with the most efficient masks in exist
ence to protect officers and men un-
Ger the Stars and Stripes from the
deadly gas attacks of the Germans.
The masks are the development of
the gas defense service of the medi-
cal CORPS. which comprises about one
hundred officers and six hundred en-
listed men.
Every means is to be directed from
this time forward for the constant
improvement of the masks and in the
training Of soldiers in their use, so
that the poisonous vapors will have
minimum effect. The production
of the masks is progressing at rate
which insures that all American
needs will be met.
At each camp and cantonment in
the United States is gas defense
school, in charge of divisional gas
officer, who works in conjunction
with the chemical adviser, both
trained in the theory and practice of
meeting gas offensive. Through
these schools every officer and man
receives instruction in the proper
means of gas defense.
Gas Used About 400 3. C.
The use of gas in warfare dates
back to about 400 b. C. The Spar
tans saturated wood with pitch and
sulphur and burned it under the walls
Of cities which they were attacking.
For several centuries gas had not
been used in warfare and the Hague
Convention definitely ruled against it..
However, on April %, 1915, the Ger
mans liberated great clouds Of gas
against Canadian troops near Ypres,
Terrible destruction and demoraliza-
ton resulted from this first gas at
tack and within week England made
arrangements for gas warfare against
the Germans. Gas is now an every
day part of war
Gases may be employed in the form
of clouds, or in shells. bombs and
hand grenades The first gas attacks
in the present war were in clouds.
Fumes wer liberated from steel con-
tainers which were distributed in
groups of three or four at intervals
of fifty yards along the trenches OPP
posite the line to be attacked. Tubes
provided with a stopcock attachment
were connected with the gas tanks
and the end of the tube was passed
over the. parapet. When an attack
was intended signal was given and
the stopcocks were opened, allowing
the gas to escape in the form of liq-
uid, which Immediately vaporized,
Gas is most commonly used in
shells, bombs and hand grenade. Gas
thus used has distinct military ad-
vantage in that it is possible to place
it where it may be needed, to form a
gas barrage or a smoke barrage to
prevent the bringing up of reinforce
ments or the retreat of defeated
troops.
Many kinds of gasses are used
Some are merely gases which tenn
porarily affect the eyes and are more
inconvenient than serious. Other
gases are terrible in their effects I'M
less proper protection is available
The first work toward the establish
ment of an American gas defense ser
vice was done under the supervision
of the Bureau of Mines, which had
the personnel and equipment to carry
on experimental work. In July, 1917
special department to carry on gas
defense work was established. Fol
lowing the example of the English,
this department was incorporated in
to the Medical Department of the
army. The Bureau of Mines turned
over much valuable material and still
continues to give active cooperation
The American gas mask is as me-
chanically perfect a device as the
best experts in the country have
been able to produce. The vital fea-
ture of any respirator mask is the
chemicals contained in the canister
These chemicals and absorbents are
made from secret formulate.
How Masks Operates
The face piece consists OF a base
of cotton fabrics, carefully rubber
lied. These face pieces are made to
fit different types of faces A net
work of elastic bands over the head
holds the face piece in place. The
ears are left uncovered.
The mask is carried in knapsack
at the left hin. supported by should