davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28

a very dense cloud Of gas. This was ex-
pected to overtax the neutraliZng chemical
in the mask. Luckily for the British troops
the Germans failed in this particular; but
some idea Of the strength of the gas can be
had by recalling that II needfu to wear
helmets three miles back from the advance
line
Not long after Won Hindenburg adopted
gas attacks 1t became apparent that that
style of warfare would avail but little in the
long run if 1t were necessary always to wait
for a favoring breeze or wind. Therefore, to
achieve a surprise and to work to a degree
Independent of atmospheric currents, his
techncsts turned their attention to the max
ing of gas filled shells which could be hurled
far and with notable precision upon chosen
areas of the enemy's territory.
The date when these projectiles were first
used at the front has been a matter of dis
pute, but it is reasonably certain that tear
gas shells, charged with xyly1 bromide were
employed extensively in 1915. Their purpose
was twofold to temporarily blind or to i'm
pair vision that the victims could not see
to work their guns or otherwise to carry on,
and to penetrate the respirator and to COM
pei the soldier to remove his mask. thus
making him easy prey to other gases fired
at the same time or shortly after
In this way the Germans hoped to in
capacitate troops to the right or left of the
designed point Of assault; and to further
this end they relied upon the manner in
which the xylyi bromide gas was known to
persist for a considerable time in the area
where planted To demoralize the soldiers
holding the position to be attacked the Ger
mans had recourse to what they termed
K-shells the noxious fumes from which
were more quickly dissipated. Thus after
reducing the effectiveness of the enemy. 1t
was Won Hindenburgs practice to launch his
infantry waves at the moment when the gas
would be no longer dangerous to his own
men,
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
The, Best Sprinkler

TANY persons must have noticed
MI that the most digent sprinkling
Of lawns and fiowerbeds fails TO
impart to the grass and plants vital slim
illus equal to that that comes from good
shower of rain.
II is because rain. falling from great
height through the air. brings with IL a
considerable quantity of carbonlc acid, OF
heterogeneous particles and of other elements
nutritious to plants. which IL has washed
out of the atmosphere. So sprinkler
used from the top of tall building might
be slightly more effective than when en-
ployed at the surface of the ground
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
e. ~ SrTNS~s YTeWHk

use of gas was due to the somewhat elab-
crate preparations that had to be made;
first, to get the tanks planted unnoticed in
the front line trenches; next, to protect
them by potash soaked mattresses which
would absorb any leaking gas and finally
to thoroughly cover the containers by sand
bags to make them bombproof
1t requires no stretch of the imagination
to picture what might have happened had
creeping bsrrage of shell fire smashed
the cylinders when the wind was blowing
In the direction of the Germans The al
lied troops soon learned to be on the alert
for these several operations, and for the
most part they kept their resprators handy
TO slip on at a moments warning.
But the Germans were going right ahead
in evolving something worse in the way of
a gas--a mixture intended to minimize the
protective properties of the defensive respi-
rator, and toward the close of 1915 they
were ready with a combination of chlorine
and twenty parts of phosgene. both of them
among the most active caustc agents in
the whole list of chemicals and capable OF
causing severe burns to the bare skin able
to corrode steel and other metals and, ac-
cordingly, extremely destructive to the SEN
sitive tissues of mans breathing apparatus
Not only that, the phosgene ingredient was
peculiarly baneful by reason of it's insidious
action, for the victim, apparently gassed
but slightly, If not kept at rest for some
while thereafter. toppled over and died If
he exercised even slightly.
The new mixture was tried out Just be-
fore dawn on December 10, 1915, for a span
of three miles along the Ypres salient, and
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
Two Calm Men

u That was the left hand rear tire
Of a taxicab coming down West End
avenue just above West Ninety third street.
The chauffeur stopped the cab almost In
the instant Of the explosion Then he
stepped down promptly but deliberately.
very calmly. and walked back along the
sue Of the cab and stood there and sur
veyed the broken tire
In the cab was passenger man OF
maybe 40 who was equally prompt in ac-
ton and also equally deliberate and calm
When the tire blew up he leaned forward
easily in HIS seat and took the meter
Then he reached for the door on the side
opposite TO that at which the chauffeur had
descended opened the door and stepped out.
taking his suit case with him all with no
delay but no hurry; he was quite as calm
as the chauffeur. He placed his suitcase on
the pavement for moment. took from his
pocket the right amount for the fare. and
tfen picked UP his suitcase and walked
around the end of the cab TO where tho
chauffeur stood and handed him the money,
Passing on then and leaving the chauffeur
10 mount the spare tire at his leisure.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
Housewives From Choice as Well as Economy
Cling to Material Which Served as War
Substitute for Flax Product

napkins at 50 a dozen. recalling the sales
placard In a linen store that read SR2 The
tablecloth for yesterdays dinner party cost
sa9S. but its pre-war predecessors, now in
the old linen cupboard, had been bought for
s17ss
Huck towels of cotton at rs cents apiece
seem to this housewife an unquestionably
good investment when linen towels stand at
81 each. Cotton pillow cases for IS cents
make the monthly bills much pleasanter to
receive than II the item were for SO so so
for linen ones
The popularity of cotton goods has so pro-
crossed that a chain of stores known pct-
uresquely as the Great White Way has been
started In New York city for the benefit of
the shopper who starts out with a long list of
household needs but stern sense of econ
omy.
Men are classified by students Of the
human race as highly conventional beings
But when It comes to the point of getting
away from convention in dress without any
one suspecting It, man enjoys the matter
Fashion demands that we'll dressed men
appear in woollen. tailored suits" admits
8 well known cotton merchant. but he
knows the comfort OF linen suits in hot
weather. though they may be beyond his
i,ocketbook. Why not. therefore wear cot
ton suits? Because Il isn't done by the
majority, so far. and the cotton suits quite
plainly are not wool or linen. though as
cotton they ore now turned out in well cut
rtyles and In goods that for surface and
firm weave have an undeniably stylish APP
pearance.
II am boldly wearing cotton collar the
year round. for. with the starched surface
Il really looks like linen and in wearing
quality is superior. The public is shy about
accepting the unusual, and must be con-
WINGED that economy is assured in the new
fashion. and. more than ALL that the other
fellow has accepted II.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
Cotton Fibre Put to Use
In Many Surprising Ways

Many unexpected uses have been found
for the unpretentious cotton fibre in add
ton to the familiar line OF table goods, bed
wear, towelling. upholstering draperies rugs
and mattresses. Cotton has magic qualities
In the hands OF modern manufacturing
games-it carries us swiftly through the air
on wings covered with "airplane cloth" It
transports US through streets and highways
on cotton made automobile tires II even Is
a faithful friend in protecting our feet with
cotton substitutes for leather.
Though thought OF by many OF us az a
fragile substance II is successfully used In
industrial machinery where cotton belts have
taken the place Of leather for many purposes
Great cylinders of cotton. weighing 1000
pounds each are brought together at high
pressure on newly woven cotton fabric to
press II down Nto the final smooth surface
for the market. Curiously enough, two pieces
Of steel at the same pressure-sixty to eighty
tons-would break under the strain.
From the point Of profits. no industry per-
haps has so many money making opportu-
mites all along the line as that Of cotton
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28

ciousIy assure the borrower it's only cot
ton. No pink checked powdered maiden
would risk her handiwork beneath the shell
ter of a cotton affair in a heavy rain. we
are told. lest the dye (of the umbrella) run.
Now, the truth is that l am giving cotton
umbrellas to some sceptical friends for
Christmas gifts The weave Of the fabric
has been brought up TO high standard of
appearance and wear, and the cumsiness
Of the much jeered at cotton article is en-
tirely overcome. The difference in cost Is,
Of course. delightfully."- in favor of the cot
ton article.
Cotton goods take and hold color well and
because of their dye-fast quality they are
often preferable to other goods where up
holstering or draperies. for example. are to
be exposed to a great deal of sunlight. Dur
ing the war Germany felt the loss Of no i'm
ported commodity 80 much az that of cot
ton, according TO observers of economic con-
ditions. Not only In the manufacture OF
ammunition was her ingenuity put to the
test but in clothing and household articles.
Imagine yourself deprived OF all articles
made from silk, linen or from cotton A
moments checking up makes us realize our
daily dependence own domestic
staple"
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
Elaborate Preparations
One of Chief Handicaps

The thing of outstanding significance in
dealing with chemical warfare in any Of
its stages of application has been the need
of surprise in effecting a telling attack.
Time after time the Germans found 1t next
to impossible to get the jump their foes
by springing the unexpected. and this was
especially the case where the opposing lines
of trenches were not more than couple of
hundred feet apart. This drawback to the
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
Fine Cotton Rapidly Becoming Real Rival to Linen

for company S@''%a ''" oss at s'
exclaims the housewife whose
linen chest contains some fine old pieces
handed down by her grandmother. Cotton
is all right for ordinary use, and even then
it's nicer, of course, to have linen If il
weren't for the awful prices of things these
days"
Quite so! Times nave changed another
family tradition. along with the substitution
of the kitchenette for the old fashioned,
spacious kitchen and the employing of
maid who works by the day and sleeps at
home in place Of the domestic whose hours
followed the old saying that "a woman's
work is never done"
While economic and trade conditions have
changed as a result of the great war. Amer
lean manufacturers have been busy in
ticipation of future conditions of their mar
kets and none more so than the cotton
dealers. Linen used TO come to us from Bel
GUM. France, Ireland and Russia The mere
mention of these countries speaks for itself
in describing the new conditions OF imports
into this country. Belgium is struggling TO
her feet again with remarkable speed but
her linen market Is out of the counting for
some time. Russia and France must be dis
counted in the same way. and Ireland. with
all her troubles is contributing practically
nothing 10 the linen market.
New Opportunities Opening
To Manufacturers of Cotton
These conditions have meant new oppor
tunlties for cotton manufacturers The
United States represents seven per cent Of
the total land area of the world. but its cot
ton production is 90 per cent OF the worlds
production Cotton has come 70 the fore
both in a greatly widened range Of articles
now offered and also In much higher grade
In many instances than the public has
known The coarsely woven products which
housewives have regarded with considerable
disdain are being either replaced or supple
mented by fabric glorihed by new proc
esses Of skilful weaving and chemical
treatment and woven In patterns hitherto
seen only In linen articles.
The particular hostess may now lay fine
cotton cloth for her dinner guests with the
comfortable assurance that its smooth weave
and handsome finish will set off her glass
and silver TO admirable advantage And the
next day when the aundress s missing be-
cause small Johnny has developed measles.
she can pack the wash" off TO the laundry
on the next street with the comforting
knowledge that cotton fabric stands up under
the severe usage of bleaching acids as the
stoutest linen never will.
The housewife also has n thrifty feeling
OF having many dollars TO the good under
the household supplies" in her budget Re-
Gently she has purchased fine cotton table
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
FooIproof Gas Latest
of Americas Achievements

AT the Edgewood Arsenal in MARYLAND.
Gen. Fries says, there has been prodused a
fooproof gas that can be despatched in
mobile clouds and which can be compressed
into small bombs or hand grenades so that
every soldier can carry number of them
In his fighting kit. These missiles will add
only a couple Of pounds to his load. in this
being very different from the tanks hitherto
used, that weighed. when fully charged any
where from ninety to two hundred pounds
At the propitious moment with the wind
favoring, the men will be able to advance
without elaborate preparation, and send the
poison gas rolling down upon the enemy's
lines. To free the gas from the little canis-
tiers II Is necessary to invoke the aid of
intense heat-the latter being generated by
chemical means brought into play by sim
pie mechanical agency. Nothing but a very
high temperature will suffice to cause the
emission of the gas. and herein lies the
distinctive safety feature.
Just what this gas is has not been dis
closed, for obvious reasons. Perhaps IL may
be Lewisite. the invention of Prof w. Lee
Lewis. formerly of Northwestern University
That gas is said to kill instantly when in
hailed In infnitesimal quantities. Whatever
the stun Is, We can be certain that it's lethal
potency is great War is war
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
Mustard Gas Most Frequently
Used in German Offensive

Successfully, the Germans brought out
their green, their yellow and their blue
cross shells, but the last did not prove a
success. The green CT oss shells were charged
with formidable sounding chemical which
became popularity known "dphosgene,"
and was extremely deadly in its action, while
tho yellow cross shells We're filled with
mixture capable of producing mustard gas.
This gas was able to cause high percent
age of casualties. 1t was with shells carry
Ing this distressing chemical that the Ger
mans deuged the line in the neighborhood
Of Newport and Ypres in July of 1917 That
surprise cost the British dearly and put their
gas discipline to a severe test. Thereafter
as most of us are aware. mustard gas figured
frequently in the German offensive, but it
was months later before the Allies were able
to retort in kind-the Germans being caught
off their guard when the French first used 1t.
In the beginning Of gas shell attacks the
Germans used shells fired by their 105-mm
and 1bO-mm howitzers, but they obtained
still better results when they adapted the
projecties of the 77-mm. field pieces to this
service. The rapid fire guns of. this calibre
made II possible to hurl accurately and
speedily a vertable shower Of gas filled
shells, and this insured a greater measure
of surprise. Despite the havoc that these
progressively destructive hampering mis-
siles could work it is matter of record that
gas produced only 27.3 per cent of all battle
casualties, and while putting this number
out of action actually occasioned but 1877 per
cent of the deaths.
Here again we have eXemplified the ia
cility with which belligerents accommodate
themselves to weapons and provide
agencies that will reduce their potency at
the same time. Therefore, as grewsome and
narrowing as the of gas seemed in the
earlier periods of the world war II is clear
that substantially all of the contestants are
in accord that gas warfare will inevitably
figure In any future conflict; and they are
likewise agreed that this way of waging bat
tie is, relatively speaking, rather humane
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
Selling of Cheap Grades Causes
Prejudice Against the Better One

Prejudice against a certain line Of goods
often Is Justly felt by the American public
because manufacturers in the United States
often begin with cheap grades only In mar
keting a new article with the rapid sales
and small profit idea.
Just such methods have queered the
idea OF cotton umbrellas for good use.
Don't worry n you do lose It, we gra-
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
Defects in the First War Gas
Soon Became Apparent

The man Immediately responsible for that
momentarily staggering departure In the art
OF war was Prof. f. Haber. intimately iden-
tltled with that great dye concern the
Badische Analin- und-Sodafabrik and the in
ventor OF a process for the fxation OF atmos-
pherfc nitrogen, which played a conspicuous
part in enabling the Germans to manuface
lure explosives and propellants when shut
or from supplies of Chilean saltpetre Upon
iiaper rested the burden Of directing the
German gas service at the front Previously
In Berlin, he and Prof Nernst had collabo-
rated IN finding a gas suited to the somewhat
complex requirements of warfare
" was not enough to devise a gas that
would possess deadly characteristics. It was
equally essential that the gas should be
dense enough to make II hang close to the
ground for time after being discharged
IRON the containers; that 1t should not be
easily dissipated or decomposed. and that It
should lend itself to manufacture in great
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28

Handling of the raw commodity involves
raising the crop, spinning weaving and sell
ing the raw goods in readiness for the manu-
facturer Preparation of the raw article
for the market involves bleaching, dyeing,
mercerizing-all separate processes accom-
plished by separate mills-the sale of cotton
yarns. the sale of cotton cloth, to the whole
salers and from them in turn to the retailers.
Each process in turn represents a distinct
industry with assured profits. In a few in
stances a merchant combines all operations
in his business. as in the case Of the wearer
of the cotton collar. previously mentioned
who until recently was his own planter.
picker. finished his product and sold 1t from
the mills to wholesalers and to retailers
The largest manufacturing plants in the
world for cotton towelling and cotton damask
are operating in North Carolina
Weaving Attractive Patterns
Into High Grade Cotton Goods
Mercerizing is a very important process
in the finishing of high grade cotton goods
such as fine tablecloths. fine grade of
yarn is used In the weaving and satin
surface thus obtained. The pattern is woven
into the cloth, and stands out by weaving
the stitches in contrasting directions. as in
embroidery The surface bloom" is then
worn down by chemical processes to the
surface of the fibre and by further chemical
treatment the mercerized finish is obtained.
In 1914 an abnormally large crop of cotton
i'm the South was gathered for the market
blocked in the usual outlets by the world
war. However, war or no war. the world
needed our cotton. and the outcome of that
years marketing was the selling of more
cotton than in any year in the history of
the trade
IF did not get much for our bales
as we should have done" comments Henry
G.. Hester, secretary Of the New Orleans
Cotton Exchange. I'VE laid the foundation
for an upward trend that brought more
money into the South fairly earned in the
years that followed than had ever before
beer obtained in our history After
four seasons raw cotton, in
oludins the seed. has exceeded in value
1870. 900 000'
The world wants our cotton. the like Of
which cannot be obtained elsewhere" de-
clnres another authority on cotton. The
world must supply it's needs from our sup
ply"
Figures compiled shortly before the war
show that the cotton exported by the United
States in 1890 totalled $40 bales $500 pounds
to the bale), and that our exports since then
have increased steadily UP to 1914s ire
mendous crop of 1000 900 bales While war
conditions inevitably lowered production. we
have been climbing back. and probably will
exceed the thirteen million mark this season.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
Sanction of Poison Gas Finds U.s. Best Equipped

One of Of deadly waited
great tn o
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
New Gas More Powerful
Than That Used in War

By reason OF the activities of our Chemical
Warfare Service the poison gases evolved
here since the cessation of strife are much
more effective and more intense in their
powers TO kill or to disable than anything
used during the world war: and hand in
hand with this progress has gone great
advance in the protective value and the com
fort of neutralizing masks. The employment
or gas on the battle front is viewed very
Inherently now by those most familiar with
the potentialties of this medium
We are told that gas attacks are more
humane. all things considered than the work
OF other weapons long in service: and in
proof of this is cited the lower percentage of
deaths in relation to the large number of
casualties. Be>this as It may, the order of
merit II the term be pardoned will here
after depend mainly upon the nature of the
gases used
Early In April of 1915 German prisoner
taken on the British sector of the western
front revealed the unbelievable fact that
the Teutons would overwhelm their foe
shortly by envelopng them in clouds of
poisonous gas. And ii was announced that
cylinders charged with the dire mixture
we're already being assembled in the trenches
on the other side of No Mans Land The
British gave no credence to the tale. and
short while later they paid dearly for their
Incredibly.
IL is a matter of record now how the
Canadians, the British and the Turcos before
Messines were caught on the 22d of April
In cloud of pallid green which was swep:
down upon them by a gentle breeze Most
of the men the front line were killed
outright while their less fortunate fellows
there and further back suffered untold tor
ture before many of them succumbed
Chlorine was the dominating factor in that
asphyxiating combination
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
Americ an Experts
Evolve Fumes More
Deadly Than Any in
Great w ar'and Safer
to Those Directing
Their Use

Decision by the League of Nations adj
visory commission that it was useless to
seek TO restrict the use of gases in war
time by prohibiting manufacture in peace
time" makes the accompanying article
most timely. Progress made by Govern
ment experimenters in the United States
puts this nation far in the van now. al
though we had NOT, reached quantity pro-
duction of IethaI Yapors before the ar
miStfce was signed