The Daily Alaska empire., 1938-10-12
Like to O,vn q Gas Mask?
 You'd Better Join the Army
By LYDIA GRAY SHAW AP Feature Service Writer

NEW OINlA, WV. iHs ii~ NANJ editor had an idea He thought I ought to buy gas mask. Every one in Europe buys them, he said. Why not tell Americans how to do it?
 But the city editor didn't know that American stores just don't carry gas masks I couldn't even find one who made gas masks in this country. So I decided I'd have to call on the army. Capt. Harry A. Kuhn heads the chemical warfare procurement di- vision of the New York area, and knows all about gas masks. He even invented some gas mask parts. ] You can't buy just one gas mask here, said Captain Kuhn. They come in gross lots. Commercial firms manufacture them for fire- men, f,imigators, refrigerator ,,lant workers = but not for newspaper writers The army has plenty orders forbid Captain Kuhn from being specific-but can't sell ttem. No Demand Here Anyway, there hasn't been a pub l lie demand, although two newspaper correspondents who were going abroad were trying to get gas masks and Captain Kuhn didnt know what to do about them either. They were afraid European stores would be sold out by the time they arrived.
 l However, if I just wanted to look at a gas mask, Captain Kuhn would oblige. He lugged couple out of his safe, and invited me to get inside one, special, super de luxe model which the United States army has spent good many years perfecting. It would cost $11 retail if you could buy it retail. It was full of comfortable details like a padded chin rest and adjustable straps.
 Captain Kuhn strapped me into the khaki canvas bag which holds the canister. The canister muTt be guarded carefully because it is the object which takes the poison out of poison gases.
 i, A long hose connects the canister with the mask. When you breathe in, the little valve at the bottom of the canister opens to bring in the air, and the poison gas is absnl bed by mixture of soda lime and charcoal. You breathe out, ard a valve at the bottom of the mask opens.
 You Can Talk Now was ready to get into the mask. Captain Kuhn held it, stuck my chin out at a 45-degree angle, he pushed and there I was, peering out through the google eyes | of the contraption.
 I couldn't see much, unless I looked dead ahead. For all I knew, the enemy m ight be crawling around my feet. Unless bent over, I couldn't look down. Whats more, there was haze on the horizon because the goggles steamed up every time I let oat breath.
 But at least I could talk. My gas mask was a superior kind which only officers use. They didn't exist in the World War Even now, pri- yates can't talk back to officers be- cause their masks have no speak ing diaphragms.
 started talking immediately. I didn't like being shut up in my gas mask. The canvas pushed in on my forehead. It had to. to be tight. but lit hurt my head. Besides, it was shard to breathe, even if I could do it normally through my nose. Captain Kuhn was regarding me with a sardonic smile. That's just the way 90 per cent of our recruits take them off," he said. You'd have that mask worn out in no time."
 Safety Comes High
 If taken off properly, from back to front, he said, the mask itself