Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-29

NY ASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 25.-The
wv army gas mask is proving an eX-
tremely versatile bit of peace time
equipment. A vaudeville comedian tece-
tiously uses a gas mask to protect himself
against the hot air of his fellow comedian;
while in a.more serious way, the worker in
a match factory renders himself invulner-
able to deadly chlorine fumes by wearing an
army mask. Fire departments all over the
country are making tests to- see if the chem
icals contained in the canisters of the army
masks absorb the fumes against which fire
men must fight.
Not long ago an engineer wrote to the
Chemical Warfare service of the de-
partment asking that gas mask be sent
him at once He was in danger of losing lbs
position, he said, because he was growing
old and Guild not stand the smoke which
flooded the engine cab whenever the train
passed through tunnel The mask was sent,
and the engineer wrote the war department
that it saved him his position Other en-
gineerS have since bought masks for the
same purpose.
novel use of an army gas mask was
made recently by a New York society wom-
an. This sable-clad matron stepped from her
limousine into the New York office of the
chemical warfare service and demanded a
gas mask. When asked why she wanted it..
she explained that she had just returned
from Palm Beach and opened her New York
house, and that moths were positively eat
Her butler, ordered to fumigate, had pur-
chased large quantity of formaldehyde and
three dozen sulphur candles. He sprayed
! formaldehyde all over the house, and lighted
the three dozen candles. The fumes soon be-
came so strong that it was impossible to stay
IN the house, and the woman had hurried
after gas mask in order to have some one
open the windows.
Her footman, who had been in the army
ntted on the mask provided, and entered the
| mouse without being at all affected by the
1umes The oVerpowering strength of the
gases was SHOWN by the fact that the woman
pets, monkey, cat and parrot, were all
| found dead in the house
Inc war department. had over 100000
gas masks manufactured, and shipped 1000.
700 overseas A great many of these were
used and worn out. Every soldier who was
sent abroad Is entitled tC keep his mask, or.
II he turned it in before leaving the service
ne can obtain another by writing to the Of
nee OF the director of storage war denart-
ment, Washington, D. G. AS over 2, 600 600
OF our soldiers went overseas, this order dis
supply.
Some of the unused masks and canisters
will be kept for the army, though the chem
1cals will not retain their strength for much
more tnan year, even if kept in dry at
mosphere. The war department is now dis
posing of the surplus to the public at the rate
u uPo uOl1dIS lOr d new mask, one dollar for
used one, and one dollar each for extra
canisters.
The used masks, which are not in condi-
ton to afford protection against gases, are
SOLD as souvenirs To prevent any one from
attempting to use them in poisonous at
mosphere the war department Sits the face
pieces before putting the used masks on sale.
ABOUT 4,3OO new masks have so far been
SOLD, largely to firms and manufacturers The
war departments record of sales shows that
vide range of industries have purchased
new masks either for experimental purposes
or to be put into immediate use Among the
purchasers are factories making ink. paper
explosives, chemicals, fertilizer wooden
goods rubber, and also oil refneries. bleach
erles copper mines, fire departments and
laboratories.
The war department demands that pros
pective purchasers of new masks state the
use to which the mask is to be put. 1t can
then inform the buyer as to whether the
army mask will be satisfactory.
To understand the prospects of the gas
mask in industry it is necessary to recall the
composition of the army mask The idea
seems to be prevalent that the army gas
mask is protection against any kind of
smoke or gas. AS matter of fact, the army
mask was constructed with the one idea of
combating the poison gases of the Germans.