ASPHYXIATING GAS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 162, 5 April 1920, Page 5

ASPHYXIATING GAS

WHAT LORD KITCHENER SAID OP -IT.. The "L.R.B. Accord," the journal of tho sth (City of London) Battalion London Kegiment, announces a very interesting gift made to the officers' mess by Major P. A. Slessor, in tho shape of framed facsimile copies of tho original telegrams which passed between Viscount (then Sir John) French and Earl Kitchener on the occasion of tho first uso of jpis by the Germans in tho late war. Viscount French telegraphed to tho War Office that the Germans wore using powerful asphyxiating goses, and strongly urged th.it immediate steps- be taken to supply means of effective kind for uso of troops. As a temporary measure he had arranged mr troops in the trenches to be supplied with solution of bicarbonate of soda in which to soak handkerchiefs. Lord .Kitchener's reply, which was dictated) by him to tho Adjutant-General, Sir Henry Sclater, was as follows:— "The uso, of asphyxiating gas is, as you are aware, euntrary to the rules and usages of war. Tipforc, therefore, we fall to the level of the degraded Germans'! must submit the matter to Wio Government. In the meantime I should ho glad if you could send mo an example or diagnosis of the material used, and I am also having the matter fully gono into in our own laboratories and by experts in this country. These methods show to what depths of infamy our enemies will go in order to "supplement their want of courage in facing our troops." • • ■■ i