East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1918-07-22
By THOMAS B. PRESTON.

I|fN .tI|.|.N ~ 4#W W III .
lySR z1E encmies is a well
established fact, con-
firmed by their own testimony. The first
application OF the use of such agents was
in the design Of guns to project them,
patented by the Krupp factory in 1910
The London Illustrated News of August
10 Of that year gave figures of the gun
fitted for position work and mounted for
use IN the field and sanciful illustration
Of the piece in action firing from slight
elevation upon body of Oriental troops,
who are writhing in agony under the
strange attack. .
Thus, eight years ago. in the quiet old
days that now seem like ancient history,
the Huns were already boasting' of their
poison gas and preparing to superimpose
a rev horror upon the he'll of war. The
general public ignored the discovery.
Military men noted it as n theoretical
possibility of artillery. academic in inter
est, somewhat like the Chinese stink
pots" never dreaming that its use was
contemplated in actual warfare against
civilized nations, but thinking it possible
only against ruthless, savage hordes who
would recognize no law Of humanity and
no tenderness for wounded or captives-
War departments saw the designs and the
brief notices published in German news
papers like the Kriegsteehniche Zeit-
schrift. clipped them out, filed them away
In their pigeon holes and forgot them
Bu1 Berlin never drowsed over the in.
vendon. Those were the days following
the Eafrer's trip to the Orient and his
pu&nR as a new Redeemer to revivify
a. Ag~dern world. Berlin to Bagdad''
was o., coming more than a dream and the
military coterie that dominates the Ger
man people was actively trying to please
its imperial master. The doctrine that
might makes right was firmly intrenched
in Germany and all means were recognized
as legitimate to extend her world power
The Hun Never Sleeps.
Secretly in the German laboratories the
herr professors were perfecting the new
application of poisonous gas in warfare.
Secretly, because ere this the Hague
Peace Convention had condemned the use
of such barbarous methods. In both ses-
sions, that of 1899 and Of 1907. the dele
gates, recognizing the growing part likely
to be played by chemistry in the science
of explosives, had pronounced in advance
the use of such weapons to be contrary
to international law. Little the Huns
cared, however, for any law, human or
divine, that could interfere with their
ambitions, and hence experiments were
continued on the new offensive weapon
General Friedrich Won Bernhardi talks
about it quite frankly in his book, which,
with unconscious cynicism, he has entitled
How Germany Makes War" Writing
in September. 1911, he said
"Krupp has lately constructed con-
trivanee for throwing bombs that prob
ably will be of much service. The bomb.
filled with high explosives and fixed to
guiding rod, is inserted into the loaded
cannon at the muzzle, with the guiding
rod first and in such way as to bring
the bomb to sit on the muzzle, whence
on discharge, it is thrown forward with
sufficient accuracy at a high angle of
elevation.
-sThe projectile, weighing more than
eighty Kilograms (1TO pounds, attains a
maximum range of 300 metres (99O feet)
and, owing to its very steep trajectory,
can be thrown behind any cover. Its ef-
feet is solely due to the fire, smoke ana
air pressure produced by the enormous
explosive charge. Nothing can keep alive
in its proximity. The suffocating smoke
and the poisonous gases viii make it prob
ably impossible for any one TO occupy
parapet behind which some of these
bombs have exploded. Perhaps obstacles
can also be destroyed by these prOjectiles |
and men be rendered unconscious in the
defence Of the trench. The importance
of this new arm can only be established
by experiment"
The experiments were continued with
redOubled ardor during an the time that
De Kaiser was rafting his sabre, threat |
szing France in North Africa, baking
zussia By supporting Austria in her an
nexation OF Bosnia and Herzegovina AMI
obtaining from England for the sake of
r,eace valuable concessions regarding the
Bardad Railway. The new offensive sub
stance. il was found, could be projected
from containers as well as fired from
run or dropped from hand grenade But
Il remained unused 10 the great veKatio1 /
Of military men. who delight in no task
better than tie killing Of their fellow
creatures
Then began the great war. Sweeping <
foruard irreSistibly, the Germans expected 4
20 take Paris in a military parade. Il
vas quite e.. shock when they were hurled 4
back 20 the Marne. Then Kitchener's
contrmptible little army hung on 10 Their
rixht flank all that hard winter Of 1914, /
oztablishing taemselTes at Ypres like =
thorn in the German side. The front /
became stabilized and the opportunity had
arrived 10 use the new weapon. which was
% Slaughter whole armies with no risk
20 the attackers instead Of vanquishins /
tbeu IN . fair fight with no favor.