view raw text
POISON GAS USED BY THE HUNS HUNSThe The Huns are using not one but literally scores of harmful gases The first was chlorine which was sent out as a cloud from cylinders concealed beneath the parapets whenever the direction and the velocity of the wind were favorable against this gas protection is afforded by a respirator which causes the gas laden air to pass through an absorbent soaked in alkali carbonate or thiosul phate Then there is carbonyl chlorid or phosgen against which partial protection at least has been found iu helmets saturated with sodium phcnate phcnateThree Three things make gas warfare effective increased concentration of the gases used so that protective devices no longer suffice against them surprise attacks whereby the gassing is done before the protective devices can be employed and the use of unexpected new material materialThe The Huns months ago added the gas shell to the gas cloud the tear gases are delivered in the former fashion Originally xylol bromid or benzyl broiiiid a concentration of one part of which iu a million would inflame the eyes formed the con ¬ tents of the tear shells The Huns have put down heavy barrages of such gas shells Next they used trichlonuethylchloroforniate which actually did at times pass through protective helmets helmetsThen Then last summer came a still more harassing gas pheiiylcarbylaminchlorid And next the sneezing gas diplienylchloroarsin intended to make the victim sneeze so violently that he will not be able to keep his mask on onLatest Latest of all has come the superlachrymator the mustard gas dichlordiethylsulphid as many as 50000 shells containing this have been fired in a single nights bombardment The effect of this gas which smells rather like garlic than mustard is not immediate on the eyes beyond inducing a slight irritation But after several hours the orbits begin to swell and inflame practically to blister causing intense pain coryza coughing and even vomiting Direct contact with the spray causes severe blistering of the skin the concentrated vapor penetrates the clothing and the respirators are no protection The Hun hand grenades are filled with bromin chloracetone chlorsulphonie acid sulphur trioxide or dimethyl sulphate And now states Major S J M Auld of the British Military Mis ¬ sion to the United States the Hun chemists are working for a colorless ordorless invisible and highly poisonous gas gasOf Of course for all these ghastly perversions of legitimate warfare the Hun will eventually have to make retribution Until which event let no one speak of peace Meanwhile our own chemists and those of our allies are not idle Leslie
