The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-04-22
Some Large Drums and 100000
Loaded Shells Rest in | 500
Feet of Water.
were FOR USE THIS SPRING
Poisonous Fluid Of No Commercial
Value and Unsafe to Have Around
America Sent Gas for 100000
Shells to Front.

OpGu dtiS ulttuuldClQlSo loi use LII MIA
ing Germans in the great spring drive,
scheduled for 1919, but halted by the
signing of the armistice, has been dis
posed of by dumping it at sea. 1t con-
sisted of 100000 poison-gas shells and
some large drums or containers of poi
son gas, which have just been taken
to sea from Baltimore and dropped
into Davy Jones' locker. The gas dis
posed of consisted of mustard gas and
chlorpicrin gas, both of which are very
dangerous and could not be used COM
mercially.
The 100000 gas shells were brought
back from France on a transport
about two weeks ago. After other
cargo of the transport had been un-
loaded the poison gas shells were
taken in the same transport from Bal
timore out to sea a distance of be-
tween sixty and one hundred miles
and dumped deep enough not to have
any effect on navigation and far
enough at sea not to have any effect
on the coast.
Dangerous to Have Around.
The containers taken to sea and
dumped showed signs that they were
soon about to begin to leak, as re-
suit of chemical effect of the gas, and
in the interest of safety these were
taken to sea and disposed of under dl-
rections given by Major General ST.
bert, head of the chemical warfare
service.
Ultimately all of the poison gas in
drums will be, disposed of in this fash
ion, but until after the treaty of peace
is signed the army will be in no hurry
to get rid of very valuable asset, and
it is not the plan. to take all this gas
to sea for dumping until after. the.
signing Of the peace treaty, except IT..
those cases where, through containers
showing signs of leaking or for other
good reasons; tt IS considered in the
interest -of safety to dispose" of the
gas sooner. -. go
General Sibert submitted to Genera
March, the chief of staff, memoran
dunn in reply to the statement tina.
no American gas shells were fred a,
the enemy.
sIns June, 1918" the memorandum
asserts, 'the following shipment o;
gases in bulk was made to the Ameri
can forces in. France to be exchanged
for gas shell: Mustard gas, Is tons:
chlorpicrin, .705 tons; phosgene, ,4s
tons. Further shipment In bulk over
seas was stopped pursuant to cable
gram from France dated July 21, 1913
the reason for this being that France
had no more extra gas shells to be
filled with American gas.
'There not being gas shell available
with suitable boosters and adapters
the gas plants were not operated tt
capacity. However, sales of some e&
cess gas were made both in England
and to France. England was sold 9O(
tons of chlorpicrin and 1868 tons OF
phOsgene. France was sold 800 'tOns
of chlorpicrin and LAOS tons of chic
rine, equivalent to 1.126 tons Of phos
gene. Phosgene is so per cent chic
rine, and France furnished phosgene
shell in exchange for this chlorine. In
addition to the above 200 tons of mus
tard gas were shipped to England for
loading shell originally made for Rus
Sia. These shells were never loaded
and the gas, at least large part OF
it, was utilized by the English in load
ing shell.
"Yhere were, therefore, shipped to
Europe 1852 tons Of gas, or its equiv.
alent, which gas was largely loaded
into shell and used by the United
States troops, or those Of our allies,
against the enemy. Three thousand
six hundred and sixty-two tons of gas
would have loaded about 100000
shells, two-thirds Of them being 70
nm. and one-third 155 mm., number
which is thought to be at least equal
to the total number Of gas shells fired
by the American troops in action in
France, showing that, while American
gas was not actually fired in American
shells in the wan it was fired against
the enemy, and that America fur
nished at least as much as she used.
I'm addition to this, 18,600 Hven
drums loaded with phosgene were
shipped to France. These contained
279 tons of gas, and some Of them, at
least, were fired at the enemy. As
soon as shells were available they
were loaded with gas, and 25,OO0
shells, Is nm. caliber, were shipped
to France on August Z, 1913. On Au-
gust 8 another shipment Of $4,000
sheHs@of the same. caliber was made,
after which time shipments We're made
us. fast as shell and boosters were
.availQble.
''Ihe first shipment of shells would
have reached France by September
1. They were unassemhled. An core
penLnt oars. hor-""er. we're strip -.
y.-,i 4.