The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-07-07

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warfare material, the report shows
that the American troops had 'the best
and most protective gas masks the
world had seen; and they brought
these with them by the Millions" A
total of 5,250,000 masks was produced,
of which 100000 were sent overseas,
and the report states that these masks
gave twenty times the protection af-
forded by the best German gas masks"
mo American soldier was ever
gassed due to the failure of an Amer
lean gas mask" the report says, "and
such gas casualties as did occur were
due to the fact that the masks were
not quickly enough utilized when the
gas was thrown over, or because the
soldier was unaware of the presence
of gas"
Germans Great Gas BIunder.
The original order from the depart
ment was for $4,000 masks to go with
Pershing's first expedition, and the re-
port tells In detail of the frantic efforts
necessary to procure them, efforts
| which actually counted for little, since
the masks were not used for many
months. At the time the expedition
sailed, however, the British and French
were not thoroughly acquainted with
the gas warfare that was developing,
nor had complete effective protection
been worked out. In speaking Of the
first German gas attack upon Canadian
troops at Ypres, the report says chlor-
Inc was used, and while protection of
the troops from 1t later became an
easy matter, at was only lack Of faith
In their new weapons that prevented
the Germans from winning the war with
ii then and there.
"Had they brought into the fighting
a sufficient supply of this chlorine"
the report continues, 'they might have
gassed their way to Paris In short or
der. As 1t was. they brought to the
line an almost negligible supply, and
they themselves were insufficiently pro-
tected to go through their own gas and
follow up the attack. BY the time they
were able to renew gas warfare the
French and British had equipped them
selves with masks which were suffi-
cient to protect men against chlorine"
The report tells Of the development
of gas masks, from the original gauze
pads soaked In chemical to the box
respirator" which came into general
use. The Americans and British en-
ployed a double-protection mask, the
facepiece being gas tight. but, to insure
against leaks, a m%outhpiece and nose
clip being supplied also, insuring pro-
lection even In a torn mask. The first
on1er was for | 100000 of these masks
for the American forces.
Subsequently. to provide greater
comfort for the men, 1t was decided
abroad that a single-protection mask
would be sufficient, the risk of leaky
masks being regarded as preferable to
the discomfort of the double-protectior
type. When this decision was received
however, on this side, ii was decided Il
carry forward experiment with new
types of masks which would give both
comfort and security. This was car
ried forward to a point where a squad
of $50 men In the field-testing section
almost lived In their gas masks, work
Ing. playing baseball, digging trenches
fighting sham battles day and night In
which actual gas ~grenades were EN-
ployed, and exposing themselves to the
heaviest concentrations Of the deadly
gases under all conditions.
Careful Tests.
"The work of this section" the re
port says, 'even went so far In tn,
case of the later designs as to Include
a test where six men worked, played
and slept In the masks for an entir,
week, only taking them OF for 80 min
utes at each meal time, and each da,
entekng high concentration Of tn
most deadly gases without injury t
the wearers."
Z The chief ingredients of the protec
ton against gases Is carbon, whic
7 absorbs the gas simultaneously. CO
coanut shells formed the best suppl
of carbon that could be found. and tn
: known world was raked by America
$ representatives to secure what wa
needed. In addition enormous quaint
q ties of fruit pits and other nut shell
were secured, and the national can
paign to Increase the supply Of thes
ingredients met with great success
e The slogan "Eat more cocoanut," II
report states, increased the consuml
8 ton In the country more than 100 p,
3 cent in a very brief period, and
October, 1918, the government was O
e taining from all sources about $50 tot
per day of cocoanut shells. The fru
n canneries of the Pacific coast suppl,
h 100 tons a day In apricot, peach. al
cherry pits and walnut shells. and d
D. campaign led by the American II,
is Cross to induce the public to CO
10 tribute fruit pits and nut shells was
s. full swing when the armistice w
a signed. 1t Is estimated that 1000 to
of material was collected by IL
means.
ID Among the masks designed and pl
IS duced were 377 1881 horse masks, viii
were easier of manufacture, as a hor
n breathes always through his nose a
If Is not as liable to gas poisoning
man. Other defensive equipment pl
lie duced In large amounts included dr
le out blankets to seal the doors Of und,
TO ground shelters from gas, and oil
cIothing underclothtnp and OInvoS