Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1917, Page 2

Com mrntjng on some aspects of the war, an English correspondent in a late letter remarks that the American contingent landed in France, and mg to take their place in the tiring line,', will not he long before they make the acquaintance of the latest product of German . kultur. .Much is written in general terms in the newspapers about “gassing.” Little is known by English men who live at home, more or less at ease, about its action and effect. In conversation with a Canadian officer, home on hospital leave, I learned a good deal. Ho took part in a fight of Yirtiv Ridge, captured in surprisingly short, time by the indomitable Canadians. He was “gassed” in tho moment of victory, and is still after months of rest and medical treatment unable to resume the active service for which he pines. Poisonous ga s made its first appearance in tho second battle of Ypros. Its effects were so startling and paralysing that n body of French Colonial troops holding a critical position tumbled backward half asphyxiated. Only the stubborn courage ofBritish forces averted grave disaster. Since that time tho. uso of poison gas has been fully adopted on (with sides. Trio gas helmet lias become an ordinary indispensable item of an army whoso forbears centuries ago fought at Croey and Agincourt with hows and arrow. The Canadian captain who has worn out habitually admit* that it is. rt trifle inconvenient in actual fighting. But as a. means of defence against insidious attack it is usually effective, and is invariably reverted to. The effects of actual “gassing” are various and strange. In some eases they do not disclose themselves for r week. A comrade who was unknowingly gassed at-the same moment as ray friend went about his daily work in ordinary fashion. On tho seventh day, tho poison having got thoroughly into his blood, developed into sudden violent attacks of luiiacy. Tt was found necessary to bind his limhs and convey him to a base hospital, whore three days later he died a raving lunatic. Tho host thing to do when “gassed”— a proceeding not- always possible—is to lie absolutely quiet. Any motion of the body sots the poison coursing through the veins with increasingly dangerous effect. Temporary paralysis is a. common result of tho poison, neuritis an invariable and prolonged ac-

cessory. Recently the Gormans have invented a, process of “gassing” other than the blowing of the poison in the faces of opposing' ranks. They have made a shell which they charge with poisonous gas of exceptional gravity. Selecting a windless day, they bombard detachments of our men with these missiles,, preferring those located in low-lying land. The bombs when they strike the ground, do not explode. Tho contact merely fractures a carefully prepared weak place in- the bomb, whence the poison gas slowly issues, lying like heavy mist on the ground, making life unbearable for man or lmnot. Up to the present time they hold tho monopoly of this devilish device introduced into “the noble art of war.”