The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-03
GAS REGIMENT BACK
WITH FINE RECORD
Major Says U. S. Chemical
Troops Surprised and Ter
rified Germans.
HAD HEAVY CASUALTIES
Went Ahead Of Infantry and
Were Idols of American
Foot Soldiers.

The First Gas Regiment, also known
as the gas and flame troops" whose
arduous service and remarkable ex-
plolts have not been proclaimed in
flaming headlines, got back yesterday
from France aboard the White star
liner Celtic after fighting on all sectors
many months and becoming the IDOLS OF
the infantry. whom they saved IRE
quently from great losses by letting
loose the terrifying material OF their
box Of chemical magic.
They easily duplicated the tricks OF
the Boche and then astonished and de-
moraiized him with a few brand new
ones distinctly and effectively Yankee.
The gas regiment went to France
more than year ago as the THIRTEEN
Engineers and has returned complete
with requirements for the dead and dis-
abled, with six companies Of ESQ men
each, in command of Major John ;.
Carlock OF san Francisco.
In January, 1918. II was brigaded with
the British, serving with them until the
end Of April, when It went into the first
Anne rican sector. fighting with every
American division to the end OF hos
tl.ties Major Carlock told of the ad-
ventures Of his men as proudly as
father might OF his own children. He
said the American public knew little
about their operations because nothing
was published. the very nature oil
their operations requiring the greatest
| secrecy.
I'VE used three kinds OF weapons. the
| protector containing thirty pounds oil
gas the four inch Stokes mortar. firing
gas OF various kinds and the cylinder
weighing 1870 pounds and carrying from
sixty to seventy pounds Of liquid gas
| We would take from 500 to 5000 Of these
! deadly cylinders and utilize them stimuli
! taneously against enemy trenches.
How They Operated.
| The projectors were used in attack
| ing concentrations OF enemy troops They
were discharged electrically. The bust
ness Of the Stokes mortars was to dea
| with machine gun nests. They were
timed so they would burst over a nes
and spill their gas and molten meta
over the gun crew, destroying them.
In the laying OF smoke screens oul
vGegiment did very effective and abso
lutely essential work. In every infantry
a screen so the men might get aheaC
under cover. We also used them Il
puzzle the artillery. drawing their fire
| The success of November 10. when tn
Marines crossed the Meuse. was brough
about largely by the use Of our screens
The gas regiment. leading az they die
every offensive, was subJeCt to CREATE
danger than any other orCa nization
This Is attested by our casualties W.
had nearly SO per cent losses in dea'
and wounded. mostly from machine cur
fire. May officers were killed. W.
fought in advance of oil divisions ans
We may speak OF their merits as fighuns
units | pay tribute especially TO New
Yorks Seventy seventh Division, who's
tenacity was Of the highest quality.
Prom captured Germans and from
other sources We learned that our worl
was playing havoc in the German ranks
destroying not only many men blu
morale We had two regiments an
three battalions in training 70 he shoru
added to our unit had the war con
tinued