Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1919-02-03

have been working In shipyards and
munition plants have received Just
praise for their fulfillment of patriotic
duty, there is an army Of men 10000
strong who have worked faithfully,
carefully screened from public notice,
performing some of the most impor-
tant work of the war, work which was
largely responsible for the early sign
Ing of the armistice. who have re-
ceived no recognition at all.
Day after day they have secretly
worked In the manufacture of the poi
sonous gases which routed the Huns
and impressed upon the Germans the
ingenuity and resourcefulness of the
American brain.
These men of the Edgewood arsenal
stayed on American soil, never had the
excitement of an ocean voyage or ad-
venture in q foreign country or the
hero-worship of those who have been
overseas, and yet while staying right
In this country they ran greater risks
than many of the men on the firing
line.
500 at One Time In Hospital.
The hospital at Edgewood is now
occupied by 800 men who have been
gassed or burned while about their
country's work. There have been as
great heroes at Edgewood as on the
battlefield. There is In the hospital
blue-eyed boy in early manhood.
smiling bravely through scars which
are today as vivid as the first day.
months ago, when they brought him,
writing bit of humanity. to the
hospital. Nor Is he the only one. There
are others. some of whom have been
gassed twice and thrice and are today
.nvallded in Colorado, having devel-
oped tuberculosis.
Hundreds of others are manned and
will always bear the marks of their
gave SO gladly without any of the
glory. stripes. promotion or encourage
ment given to the men In the camps
and trenches.
The signing of the armistice has
made ii possible for the public to have
the first insight into the vast work
which has been accomplished at the
Edgewood arsenal, where has been
manufactured and shipped safely
"over there" more gas than has been
made by England and France COM
bined. Far removed from prying eyes.
these thousands of men have produced
gases which will go down In history
as among the greatest achievements Of
the war.
Gas Factory City In Itself.
Where on October "a. 1917. stood a
bare waste OF forest. now stands what
is a small manufacturing town and a
city in its activities. Great chemical
plants have risen with lightning rapid
lty. There are the chlorine, phosgene,
chloralin and mustard gas plants, and
then down near the water the large
filing plant where the big shells were
filled with deadly poisons and sent on
their errand of freeing humanity.
Edgewood arsenal covers a tract Of
300 acres, adjoining its companion
unit, the great Aberdeen proving
grounds. where the biggest Of the big
guns were tried out that were de-
signed to smash the strongest of Ger
man Notifications. At the arsenal
these results, ii was confidently pre-
dicted, would be more effectively Sc
cured, and certainly at smaller hu-
man cost, by the gas products which
1t was confidently declared would
smother the Metz forts.
Upon these 300 acres have been con-
structed large number Of immense
chemical plants with the necessary adj
juncts, all on an extensive scale, con-
nected by 35 miles Of railway, oper-
ated by United States army crews,
working three shifts a day. At first
1t was attempted to run the arsenal
with civilian labor. but the hazardous
character of the employment made this
class Of employee so uncertain, al
though fancy wages were offered, that
1t became necessary to use enlisted
men exclusively throughout the plant.
The result has been that work Of
a highly specialized nature and extra
hazardous has been done by men re-
ceiving from $50 a month up. and UNI
der rigorous military discipline.
The research laboratory work Of the
arsenal has been highly fruitful and
the gases Of the Germans are said to
be mild In comparison with the more
terrible products OF Edgewood, of
which the Germans had only got a
foretaste when the armistice was
signed.
Acame to Teach, Remain 10 Learn
Two experts. Colonel Aud and Cap
tain Hankar. one sent from England
and the other from France, to aid In
the establishment Of toxic gas plants,
said on leaving: I'VE came to teach,
but we remain to learn
The Central Construction. corpora
ton received confrncf n O><o1,o~