The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1918-05-10

that even II the fabric OF the f~acc-plcco should be
pierced, the soldier would still be breathing en-
tlrely through his mouth.
For every mask made there Is nj least one En-
tn canister. These %canlsters are detachable from
the tube. when n canister has lost It's efficiency,
Il can be dctnched and n new canister put on.
About the first thing u soldier wants TO know
about a gas mask II how much protection It af'
fords him. The best answer TO this question Is
that the present American mask affords more pro-
lection than any device In existence. The chem
icnls In the canister will n~eutrnllze the heaviest
concentrations OF gases for a period nj least ten
times longer than the possible duration Of any
gns attack.
In every knapsack Is a record card. on which
each soldier must enter the time that his mask
has been exposed TO gas, This record, combined
with subsequent examination. makes II possible 90
Judge accurately when there Is amy danger Of the
chemical beinr worn out. Before that point II
reached a new mask n issued.
while the main function u the field supply sec.
ton Is to supply gus masks, Il Il also responsible
for the supply Of all other gns-dcfcnsc equipment.
This includes masks for horses. which consist Of
several layers OF fabric which nrc imprcgnated
with neutrnllzing chemicals. Trench or fnpper
fans must also be supplied In considerable num-
Der. oxygen inhalers and oxygen bottles for use
In field md base hospitals are also supplied In
large numbers instruments for the detection OF
gs and the spreading Of gns alarms are necessary.
These consist OF horns, rnttles and special detect
Ing devices,
There N perhaps no feature of modern wnrfnrc
In which the psychological element II more lmpor-
tnnt than IN connection with gas. Guses nre UNI
canny 10 the untrnlncd man. Every soldier must
be- made to understand that there II no protection
except the gus mask, and he must believe In the
value NJ his equipment. lie must realize that the
equipment Itself will not do the work unless he Is
sklllful In adjusting II quickly and being nccus'
toned 90 wear II without feeling hampered.
u. - a.. attu.ba ah.tu thuf az. puarnltlna
are caused, not 80 much boy defective masks, NJ by
lack u training, Here are excerpts from official
reports from the western front, giving reasons for
gus casualties:
"Oncers and men sleeping In dugouts without
having their masks attached TO them, or being
caught AWAY from their dugouts without their
Masks
Men In support trenches not getting the warn
ing IN time"
Helmets being worn under ovcrconts, with con.
sequent difficulty Ia getting them out and putting
them On quickly"
"Men thinking that gas was gone and taking
their masks on"
Since casualties like these occur every time a
gas attack Is made, II Is obvious that simply 20
provide troops with gas masks is not enough.
They must be drilled until they feel their respin-
tors are n part Of their dress-more necessary
than a pair OF shoes, for they must never depart
from them.
Ihey must learn 10 give the hlhrm mAuhcuNely
and 10 have such confidence In their masks that
under no circumstances will they take them on.
This means stln military discipline. Il neces.
States trimming that IA different from anything
that was ever attempted, since II deals with a
weapon that is nolseless and sometimes invisible.
II IL the work OF the field training section OF
the gns-dcfense service 10 bring home TO the Amer
lean soldiers the Importance Of his gns mask, 20
drill him In It's use and 10 inspire confidence In its
efficacy.
The gas defense schools at all camps provide
trimming in the theory and practice Of gas de-
Tense.
As In all other elements OF warfare, the prn-
ciples OF defense can be comprehended only
through a knowledge OF offensive tactics.
In training troops, conditions are created In the
field which resemble as nearly as possible actual
conditions encountered at the front. The stu
dent learns to get his mask on In a hurry, six see
onds being the standard time when the ~knApsack