Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-07-11
CHAPTER xxlu-cort'nued.

CHAPTER xxilI-contlnued.
10
a xas helmet II made Of cloth, treat.
1ss with chemicals. There are two win
: 1aSs. sr xtass eyes, 10 It. through which
sso en- ~ Inside there Is a rubber
sassersd tube. which goes In the mouth.
Fyu tce4the through your nose; the
e sss pessins through the cloth helmet,
as a~estraiised BY the action Of the
~~rtazHtcais. The foul air Is exhaled
through the tube in the mouth. this
siaSe siding 30 constructed that It pre-
: -sssea xhc inhaiing Of the outside air or
sEss- One helmet ID good for FIVE hours
rese sAs strongest gas. Each Tommy
*S,R-rses two Of them slung around his
:xs1ksah&ec In Z waterproof canvas bag.
'@sAs mast wear this bag at all times,
-as~en while sleeping. TO change a de-
s~sssrttse helmet you take out the new
s1e hold your breath, pull the old one
~ placing the new one over your
'sArad. tucklng In the loose ends under
.SsAA collar Of your tunic.
Ear . minute, pandemonIum reigned
aar trench-Tommles adjusting
@ssa.&r helmets, bombers running here
aaa There, and men turning out Of the
sEzzaats with fixed ~bayonets. to man
s1nss ere step.
Hs-saforceTents were pouring out Of
4 III, communication trenches.
sSur guns crew were busy mounting
HsassS machine gun on the parapet and
4SfrfsxtaE up extra ammunition from
III ass duxout.
German gas Is heavier thag air and
assaa alis the trenches and dugouts,
ssAere 1t has been known to Turk for
,sassa az three days. until the air is puri.
~krd hy means OF large chemical spray.
ases-
We had to work quickly, as Fritz
,.gsaerHfly follows the gas with an In.
'Sfassery attack.
4 company man on our right was
a'ns slow In getting on his helmet: he
assx To the ground. clutchlng at his
skEaat, and after a few spasmodlc
ss~fstinss went West (died). 1t was
aaertble to see him die. but we were
.ssaeserfess to help him. In the corner
% a traverse. a little. muddy cur dog,
'fsas Of the %connpany.'s pets, was lying
dead. with his paws over his nose.
Els the animals that suffer the most
the horses. mules, cattle. dogs, cats
'aTsd rsts-they having no helmets to
&aps them. Tommy does not sympa.
aslse with rats In q gas attack.
aAf times gas has been known to
Szve1, with dire results. fifteen miles
hssAnd the lines.
4 sAs. er smoke helmet, N Il IS
Ssssasd, ct he best Is a vile-smeling
rsasas. and It u not long before one gets
a-xsasent Asadache from wearing It.
Our sigAteen.poundcrs were burst.
fsa4 - No Mans Land. 10 an effort, BY
dae artillery. to dispense the gas
~entoadA
The dre step was lined with crouch.
Ing men, bayonets txed. and bombs
sneAr 1t hand TO repel the expected at.
weAek.
oar artillery had put a barrage Of
esxt1in drs on the German lines, to try
aAA break up their attack and keep
fAa<k re-enf0roements.
lEaiaed my, machine gun ON their
1rsneA and IL bullets were raking the
NEspeE
Thea over they came, bayonets glis.
1enaAg. In their resplrators, which
4have . large snout In front. they look.
- NE some horrible nightmare.
Al along III trench. rides and ma.
-aeAna guas spoke. our shrapnel wal
burs1ng over their heads. They went
aAswa IN heaps. but new ones took the
p&1ces Of the fallen. Nothing could
shsp that mad rush. The Germans
@xaAched our barbed wirer- which had
uRevasnsiy been demolished by their
rdAel1a. tAea II was bomb against bomb,
uaaA he devil Tor all.
dAsddenly my head seemed to burst
1ksm . loud scrack" 10 my cal. Then
~ bad besaa to swim, throat got
~. 81 . heavy pressure on the lungs
~nEoeo ~ that my helmet was leak.
- Turains By gun over to No. 2, !
<oa0s1 helmets.
n tFsnch started 10 wind like 1
MaAA. end sasdbags appeared to b
0aa11ag In. the cir. The noise vas hoe.
nGbae: I sank onto the. Ore step, needles
-osnse h b psickias ny Assh, then
0neDess.
Twas awaksnsd by one Of ny mates
ya1!svns ~ smoke helmet. How de.
dsss hat cool. fresh cir felt 10 ny
ssansa