Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-06-23
A Soldiers Gas Mask fS His
 TaliSman On the Battle FrOnt
If He's Where it Ant When Fritz Boche Sends "Hell Cloud' Over Then Its Taps a Pine Box and
 Bighty So He Hugs it Tight

Behind British Lines in France, May 22.-(Correspondence of the Associat- ed Press)-One of the most essential parts of a recruits training is that which teaches him to protect himself against gas attack. It has been prov ed that practically complete security can be ogtained against this latest pendent upon previous training. This special training is provided for every British recruit by the special "gas schools established at convenient points behind the front. Every recruit must complete the course of instruc- tion here before he is allowed to take his place in the front line.
 "The objects of our training" said the British officer who showed The Associated Press correspondent thru one of these schools, 'are to familiar ize the soldier with the various anti gas apparatus, and to fix firmly in his mind the two chief aXioms to be learn ed in the use of gas,-the first being that careleSsness may mean sudden death, the second that a proper pro- cedure gives absolute immunity from any ill-effect."
 The gases employed by the enemy are of two kinds, lethal and non-leth- al. The first class will produce death if breathed in sufficient quantities. The second class include lachdyma- tory or tear gas, and number of similar gases used in produce merely temporary effects. The gases are em- ployed in two ways, by release from cylinder when favorable winds are blowing, or by enclosing them in shell 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 respir- ator" which is the newest and most important of these, consists of a fleX- ible mask that fits over the face. This mask is fitted with glass win dows for the eyes, a clip to cover the nostrils to prevent the wearer breath ing through the nose and special mouthpiete fitted with a valve. The mouthpiece admits of free exhala. tion, but forces inhalation to take place through a tin box, connected tc the mouthpiece by a flexible tube and containing the chemicals that ab, sorb the gas, allowing only pure ail to pass into the lungs. The whole de vice is carried by every soldier ill 2 satchel slung over the chest.
 The men are trained to put the ap pliance into use in minimum time As soon as they are expert in the de tails of fitting the mask they are pu
 through various drills carrying the apparatus At word of command they stop instantly whatever they ar' doing and fit the mask into position These drills are continued until g
 whole company can protect itself il 9 few seconds.
 They are then exercised ir carrying
 out more complicated drills, including
 prolonged double-quick marching
 with the apparatus in place, unti they are fully accustomed to workins
 under the inconvenience caused there by.
 Y Each man is given a respirator tha
 fits him perfectly, and which thence
 forth becomes his personal property
 The fit is tested by placing each mai
 for several minutes in a chambe
 heavily charged with gas If he ex
 hibits any symptoms of discomfort a
 the end of the test, he must be fitte' i with ney mask Iii order to- in | spire confidence, he is later put 'thr1
 the most exacting tests in rooms fille'
 with the most deadly gases. iron
 which he suffers no ill effects what
 ever.
 1 later step in the gas school i
 training in methods of clearing ga ! sut if dugouts. and methods of pre- venting gas getting into dugouts. Tn