Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-10-25
CHAPTER xxlli-contlnued.

| CHAPTER Continued.
-
A gas helmet IL made of cloth, treat
ed with chemicals. There are two win
dows, or glass eyes. In 1t, through whicl
you can see. Inside there Is a rubber
covered tube, which goes In the mouth
You breathe through your nose; tn
gas. passing through the cloth helmel
IL neutralized by the action Of thu
chemicals. The foul air is exhalet
through the tube In the mouth. thi!
tube being 50 constructed that 1t pre-
vents the inhaling Of the outside air Of
gas. One helmet is good for five hours
Of the strongest gas. Each Tommy
carries two Of them slung around his
shoulder In a waterproof canvas bag
He must wear this bag at all times
even while sleeping. To change a de
fective helmet. you take out the new
one. hold your breath, pull the old one
of. placing the new one over your
head, tucking in the loose ends under
the collar Of your tunic.
For q minute. pandemonium reigned
In our trench-Tommies adjusting
their helmets, bombers running here
and there. and men turning out of the
dugouts with fixed bayonets, to man
the fire step.
Requirements were pouring out of
the communication trenches.
Our guns crew were busy mounting
the machine gun on the parapet and
bringing up extra ammunition from
the dugout.
German gas II heavier than air and
soon fills the trenches and dugouts,
where 1t has been known to Turk for
two or three days, until the air is puri-
fed BY means Of large chemical spray
era.
We had to work quickly, as Fritz
generally follows the gas with an in
fantry attack.
A company man on our right was
too slow in getting on his helmet; he
sank to the ground, clutching at his
throat, and after q few spasmodic
twistings went West (died). 1t was
horrible to see him die, but we were
poweriess to help him. In the corner
Of q traverse. q little, muddy cur dog,
one Of the company's pets. twas lying
dead. with his paws over his nose.
It's the animals that suffer the most
tho horses. mules, cattle, dogs, cats
and rats-they having no helmets to
save them. Tommy does not sympa-
thize with rats In gas attack.
At times gas has been known to
travel. with dire results. fifteen miles
behind the lines.
A gas or smoke helmet, as Il Is
called, at the best IL q vile-smelling
thing. and It u not long before one gets
Q Violent headache from wearing 1t.
Our eighteen-pounders were burst
ing In No Mans Land, In an effort. BIZ
the artillery. to dispense the gas
clouds.
The IRE step was lined with crouch
ing men. bayouets fixed. and bombs
near at Aaad to repel the expected at.
tack.
Our artillery had put q barrage Of
curtain fire on the German lines, to tn
and break up their attack and keen
back eenforcements.
I trained my machine gun on their
trench and its bullets were raking the
parapet.
Thsa over they came. bayonets glls-
tenine. In their respirators, which
have q large snout In front, they look.
"a like some horrible nightmare.
An along our trench, rifles and ma
chine guns spoke. our shrapnel was
bursting over their heads. They went
down In heaps. but new ones took the
places Of the fallen. Nothing could
sop that mad rush. The Germans
reached our barbed wire. which had
been demolished BY their
shells. then Il was bomb against bomb. |
and the devil for al.
Suddenly my head seemed to burst
from Q loud ''crack" In my ear. Then
ny head began to swim, throat got
dry. and q heavy pressure on the lungs |
warned me that my helmet was leak
Ing. Turning By gun over to No. 2 I
ehanged helmets.
The trench started to wind IKE a
make. and sandbaes appeared to be
boating In the air. The noise was hor.
Able: sank onto the IRE step. needles
'eemed to Be pricking my flesh, then
blackneos.
Twas awakened BY one Of my mates
my smoke helmet. How de-
iclous that cool. fresh air felt In my
lungs.
A strong wind had arisen and dis.
,sfsed he gas.
They told ne that had been sout"
'or three hours: they thought I was
lead.
The attack had been repulsed after
! hard light Twice the Germans had
'ained Z foothold in our trench, but
nd been driven out BY counter-at.
aeks. TAs trench was filled with their
|sad ana eurA Through q periscops
counted eighteen dead Germans In
NJ wire: they were . CHASTITY Sight In
he1r hseEibls-aooking respiratora
sraninsd my nrst smoke helmet
\ builst had gone through II a the
e 49, ~ ezasing ~ 81. 8Dl