The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-04
800 HEROES BRAVED
DEATH IN GAS TESTS
Home Service Men From Dix
Enabled Army to Guido
Enemy in Warfare.
ALL TRIED TO GET "ovER"
Volunteered Eagerly When
Called for Perils Of Ex-
perimental Station.
Special DespafcA to Tuu sus.


CAMP DIX. May 3.-In order that
hundreds of thousands of their COM
rades "over there might have better
protection against German gas attacks
and that at the same time Uncle Sam
might perfect his own methods In gas
ofrenslves 900 Camp Dix soldiers. un-
able physically to pass the examina-
tons for overseas service. but jealous
to have part in saving civilization,
submitted themselves to numerous peril
Gus experiments In chemical warfare at
tho proving grounds at Lakehurst.
Now that the censorship has been lifted
the story of these heroes can be told
for the first time.
A few days before the war closed
Uncle Sam was sending to the Ameri-
can artillery mustard gas shells con-
tanning a compound ten times as eff
fective as the stun the Germans sent
over into the Yankee lines. Nor was
this supergas OF tho mustard variety
tho only chemical surprise with which
the American artillery was preparing
to spray the enemy. There were poison
smokes and poison fogs and special
gases of score OF varieties. In the
preparation Of many of these the 800
heroes from Camp Dix had big part
Experiments to Help Army.
When the personnel department at
Camp Dix was selecting through a
! series of physical tests the men suited
for the rigors Of army life in tho field
l Ill AAI tNar fnr nfN
to domestice service. Among them was
the detachment assigned TO the Lake
hurst proving grounds OF the Chemical
Warfare Department They were
transferred out OF camp. and but for the
fact being noted in army orders their
going might have passed unnotlced.
Not until very recently. when Soma
came back to Camp Dix for discharge,
has the nature OF some of the service
performed at the proving grounds by
these Dix veterans been available
for publication. Even now much Is still
yelled in secrecy, but suffice to say
that 10 heroes of foreign battlefields are
more entitled to the ID. $. G. award
than are many of these home service
men who deliberately imperilled their
lives TO aid the Government in conduct
ing experiments Of tremendous inpor-
lance to the success of American arms
citement and Inspiration Of the attack
or defence over Here there was
none OF the thrill OF the conflict. as these
Dix heroes exposed themselves to gas
attacks to help American scientists per-
feet the rev gas masks or to ascertain
certain effects OF new gases under field
conditions.
For the experiments to test the killing
power Of explosives gas shells and other
containers, goats, guinea pigs and rab-
bits were used. But in the tests to get
other details these animals were useless
For instance. the department was put
ting over a new poison smoke. 1t was
found that 1t could penetrate any mask
made. The eituat!on was explained 10
! the soldiers at company formation. They
| we're asked IL any desired to volunteer
| 10 obtain certain Information to aid In
making this smoke not only serviceable,
| but safe TO handle. Officers were care
full to explain the danger. but practically
I the entire company volunteered. In ad-
ditlon, many student officers from
nearby gas training school asked TO be
permitted to join the experimental sroupa
Tests for Gas Masks.
! The soldiers were supplied with gas
/ masks Of every known make then In use
| on any front. Wearing these masks, the
men were distributed in trenches and
| on the open field at the proving grounds
! A gas attack with the poison smoke was
then let loose upon them. Scorers kept
| tabs on every man. The first serious
| effect of this smoke was TO make a man
sick TO his stomach. 1t was found that
the men wearing the German masks
were the first TO be affected Perfected
American masks. IT was found. enabled
| the wearer to avoid the danger for the
longest period OF any used. Fully two
| score OF theee heroes were rushed to the
hospital in ambulances, but all eventu-
| ally recovered.
| Repeatedly these men volunteered to
| fight and win from the unknown. facts
regarding masks and gases that other
wise would have been unobtainable
No records available here Indicate
| Just which OF the six men assigned to
the proving grounds became members
| OF the experimental companies. There
may be such information In the technical
! memoranda at the proving grounds. so
| that some day these unsung heroes may
be accorded due recognition for their