The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-06-04
GAS SCHOOLS Of
BRITISH ARMY TT
PROTECT: TOMMY
Each Recruit Is Made Famil-
lar With Methods OF Pre-
venting Serious Effects OF
Gas.
BY Associated Press to The BannerI

IBy Associated Press to The Banner1
BEHIND BRITISH LINES IN
FRANCE, May correspondence of
the Associated Presu) One of the
most essential parts Of recruits
training 10 that which teaches him to
protect himself against gas attack. It
has been proved that practically com
plctc security can be obtained against
this latest weapon. but that such Sc
curity is dependent upon previous
training. This special training is pro
vided for every British recruit by the
special "gas schools" established at
convenient points behind the front
Every recruit must complete a course
of instruction here before he is allow
cd to take his place in the front line
PREVENT CARELE55NESs
"Tbe objects Of our training" said
the British officer who showed The
Associated Press correspondent
through one of these schools, "are TO
familiarize the soldier with the var
ioug anti gas apparatus, and to fix
firmly In his mind the two chief ak
IONS to be learned in the use of gus
the first being that carelessness may
mean sudden death, the second that
proper procedure gives absolute i'm.
munity from any illeffect"
The gases employed by the enemy
are of two kinds. lethal and non leth.
AL The first class will produce death
| il breathcd in sufficient quantities.
The second class include lachryma.
tory or tear gas, and a number of sim
liar gases used to produce merely tenn.
pOrary effects, The gases arc employ
ed i'm two ways. by release from cyl
indcrs when favorable winds are blow
| fired from guns and trench mortars.
TWO APPLIANCES
At the gas school the men are
taught to protect themselves against
both forms. Two appliances are used
in the British army. The box rcspir-
ator." which is the newest and most
important OF these, consists of flex.
ible mask that fits over the face This
mask is fitted with glass windows for
the eyes. a clip to cover the nostrils
to prevent the wearer breathing
through the nose and a special mouth
piece fitted with valve. The mouth
piece admits of free exhalation. but
forces inhalation to take place through
a tin box, connected to the mouth.
piece by flexible tube. and contain
ing the chemicals that absorb the gas,
allowing only pure air to pass into
the lungs, The whole device is car
ried by every soldier in satchel slung
over the chest.
The men are trained to put the ap-
plance into use in a minimum time.
! AS soon as they are expert in the de.
tails of fitting the mask they are put
through various drills. carrying the
apparatus AT word of command,
'hNs otcp instantly lIty are
doing and fit the mask into position.
These drills are continued until a
whole company can protect itself in a
/ few seconds
DRILLED THOROUGHLY
They are then exercised in carrying
out more complicated drills. including
prolonged double-quick marching, with
the apparatus In place, until they are
fully accustomed to working under the
Inconvenience caused thereby.
Each man is given respirator that
fits him perfectly. and which thence
forth becomes his personal property.
The fit is tested by placing each man
for several minutes i'm chamber
heavily charged with gas. If he ex-
htbits any symptoms of discomfort at
the end of the test. he must be fitted
with new mask. In order to inspire
confidence. he Is later put through the
most eNacting tests in rooms filed
with the most deadly gases. from
! which he suffers no i'll effects what
ever.
CLEARING DUGoUTs
A later step in the gas school ia
training in methods of clearing gas
out Of dugcuts, and methods of pre-.
venting gas getting into dugouts. The
gas, being heavier than air, collects
in such places II allowed to, and the
methods of constructing impervious
doors, impervious blanket curtains.
and similar devices. are shown. The
recruit Is shown the principles of ven
tilation, whereby gas can be blown out
of dugouts by the use of fans or by
lighting fires at favorable points near
the entrance. Actual experiments
along these lines are carried out in
the school and are studied by the men.
The most essential thing to be done
in case of gas attack, the instructor
tells his pupils. Is to warn everybody