Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-04-25

H&SseSES and approximately 600 en-
The two principal factors in gas defense are eff
fective masks and thorough training OF soldiers
in the use of masks and various methods of avoid
ing contact with poisonous vapors
Experts who been sent to this country by
allied governments have pronounced the pres
ent American masks the most efficient in existence
The production of these masks is progressing at Il
rate which insures that the requirements OF the
American troops abroad will be amply supplied
At each cantonment in the United States Il gas
defense school has been established and placed in
charge o a divisional gas officer, who works in
conjunction with the chemical adviser both trained
in the theory and practice of meeting gas Of
fensves. Through these schools every officer and
receives instruction TO proper means OF
gas defense.
The use of gas in warfare dates back to about
4O4 B. c. The Spartans saturated wood with pitch
and sulphur burned it under the walls of cit
fes which they were attacking. For several CEN
turtles gas had been used in warfare and The
Hague convention definitely ruled against it
However, on April %, 1915, the Germans liberated
great clouds of gas against Canadian troops near
Ypres. Terrible destruction and Generalization re-
from this first gas attack, and within
week England made plans for warfare against
the &c mans. Gas is everyday part OF
Gases may be employed in the form of clouds.
in shells, bombs and hand grenades. The first
gas attacks in the present war were In clouds.
Fumes liberated from steel containers which
distributed in groups of three four at
intervals of 80 yards along the trenches opposite
the line to be attacked. Tubes, provided with
stopcock attachment, connected with the gas
tanks. and the end of the tube passed over
the parapet. When the attack intended,
signal was given and the stopcocks We're opened.
allowing the gas to escape in the form of liquid
which Immediately vaporzed
Soon after the first German gas attack Eng
fish and French women sent to the front hundreds
Of thousands of homemade gas masks. For the
most part they were merely bandages impregnated
with chemicals to wrap around the mouth and
The next step in masks cloth helmet
hood which had been dipped in neutralizing so
luton, the bottom of which tucked in the
exhaust outlet for the exhaed air This type
of mask has been used extensively
The small box respirator mask next de-
veoped. and 1T is the model Of the mask we are
at present using It is the highest development.
afording good protection 1t has an impervi-
Gus face-piece. with glass or celluoid eyepieces.
held in place by rubber bands around the head. A
canister is carried in small knapsack and fex-
ihle tube connects the box in the face-piece In
side the face-piece is small wire clamp with rub
Der pads which fits on the nose and forces the
TO breathe through his mouth The end
of the flexible tube has rubber mouthpiece
through which the man breathes. The incoming
breath comes through the canister, which is filed
with several layers of special chemicals of
absorbent nature which neutralize render harm
the gaS-latlen air The outgoing breath
passes outside the facepiece through small rub
valve
The American gas defense service is divided
into three separate parts: % Field supply sec,
ton; (2) field training section; (3) overseas re-
pair section.
function of the field supply section is to
manufacture procure all gaS-defenSe materials
and equipment. The big work of course is to
furnish troops with effective masks. The
small box respirator type of mask, admittedly the
best mask in existence, accepted model.
The manufacture of mask of this type
presented a problem No manufacturing firms had
experience with article of this kind More
than ordinary must be used in making parts
because the slightest defect would render the
mask useless. The wide variety of materials going
into the mask made it necessary to have the parts
made in separate plants and assembled at
trail plant. At present about sixty manufacturing
Arms contribute directly to the making of the
American mask
With actual experience to depend upon much
experimental and research work necessary.
An extensive experimental organization was built
up, with branches in several cities. Recently it
plant handle the final assembling and the diff
fcult sewing operations the face-piece. This
plant will be in full operation, with about
1000 employees.
The American mask similar to the British is as
mechanically perfect the best experts In the
country have been able to produce. The vital fea-
fure of any respirator mask is the chemicals con-
tanned in the canister. These chemicals and alb
sorbents made from secret formulate
The face-piece consists of base of cotton fab
! rfc, carefully rubberized. These face-pieces
made to fit various types of faces. A network of
elastic bands the head holds the facepiece in
place. The are left uncovered.
The mask is carried in knapsack at the left hip,
supported by shoulder band When troops APP
proach a danger zone. the straps shortened and
knapsack is shifted to rest high the chest.
ready for instant This is known the .alert
position The soldier has merely to open the
kn:apsack, pull the flexible hose with the face
niece attached. nut the rubber mOuthpiece in his