The New York herald., 1921-12-18

Mr.. thompson pointed out, are deadly
poisons.
With these poisons as bases the
American army has produced gases
which will scorch the skin. cause ex-
oessive vomiting, destroy the tissues
Of the nose and throat and cause
| blindness.
In one form Of mustard gas Of the
American development the proportion
| Of one part In 100000 is capable Of
causing conjunctivitis of the eye.
Gas That Penetrates Masks.
Diphenylchloroarsine an arsenic
compound. penetrates gas masks and
burns out the lungs of the wearer.
1t also causes sneezing and infiam-
nation of the throat and nose.
Gases Of this nature were being
manufactured at the rate OF 100000
pounds a day at the Government
arsenal at Edgewood, Md. when the
armistice was signed. They were for
use against German and Austrian SOL
diers in the great war.
The effectiveness OF the American
gases is shown by the fact that in
one six month period more than 900
casualties were reported at the Edge
wood arsenal where workers wore
special clothing to protect them
against the risk of manufacture and
we're trained TO be constantly on the
alert against poisoning themselves
while at work.
Gas Corps officials contend that all
soldiers in future wars will wear gas
masks continually as a matter Of
course.
The difficulties of perfecting gas
masks that will protect the lungs
against all kinds of gases are made
clear in the Government records. A
history Of gas in the great war shows
that a variety Of masks were invented
and tried out by the French, British
and Americans. AS soon, however, as
the Allies developed a mask that was
fairly trustworthy the Germans came
forward with a new gas that went
through the mask.
The American gas section officials
too worked exhaustlvely to perfect
new gases that would penetrate any
German mask. Both sides, according
to the official records, seem TO have
been fairly successful in the game Of
attacking with gas against which
the available masks were of little avail
New Kind of Gas Barrngc.
The tactical use ot gas is being
studied by American officials. In lay
ing down a barrage it is planned to
begin with gas that has a'burning
action upon the skin and lungs only
when the soldier breathing 1t begins
to exercise and to perspire. A large
number of shells would be sent into
the enemy lines containing this kind
of gas. The enemy would receive II,
become affected and the soldiers would
lie down or remain quiet to prevent
the gas from acting upon them.
But the American army then would
send over a new kind of barrage COM
posed of high explosive shells In
tended to throw the enemy into confu-
sion and panic. Enemy soldiers. it is
believed, would begin to rush about.
Then the gas within their lungs would
start to strangle them. Soon those
who moved to any extent would choke
and die in agony as a result OF their
exercise.
Almost every branch of the Ameri
can army and navy will be equipped
with poison weapons in the next war
if leaders OF the Gas Corps have their
way. Strong opposition to this is de-
veloping in many sections of the
army. In the great war American
officers and men had to be persuaded
to fight with poison. Gas Corps off,
Gals recall that even when Germany
was sending over thousands of tons
Of gas they had to SELL this new
weapon TO the Yanks iii the trenches.
The army flies are filed with COM
plants Of soldiers against wearing
gas masks. In many cases American
soldiers found the masks unbearable,
being compelled to strip them off be-
cause of their discomfort even in the
midst of gas clouds.
The Gas Corps official was the butt
OF ir1numerable army jcsts. Soldier
cartoonists continuously took liberties
with him. They pictured the soldier
of the future wearing an anti-gas
suit of underwear, anti-gas garters.
socks and gloves. as we'll as shoes and
gas mask. In their pictures they
showed the gas officer resembling a
balloon in his anti-gas suit mounted
on q horse also wearing n gas mask
and anti-gas shoes and boots. Ac-
companying the pictured officer was a
dog. also enveloped in a gas mask.
Anti-cas Underwear Experiment.
AS a matter Of fact the Gas Corps
experimental with the manufacture of
all these forms of protective clothing.
including underwear TO protect against
the deadly scorching action of mustard
gas.
The attitude of the American sol
dier during the war was one of good
natured tolerance toward gas. which
he used as sparingly as general orders
and the eyes OF his superiors would
permit.
Gen. Pershing. It may be pointed
out, cooperated during the great war
in equipping the American army with
gas and masks as a measure of neces-
sity against tho German attacks.
The plans OF the Gas Corps officials
for the. war of the future show the
infantry marching into conflict bur-
dened and hung about with gas gren.
ades. gas candles and other containers
OF poison With the cavalry, accord
Ing to the plans, will go a supple
=.