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Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1915, Page 4

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DR. MARTIN* PRAISES THE TOMMY. HORRORS OF GERMAN GAS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Dr. Arthur Martin, of Palmcrston North, has now returned to New Zealand for a, brief rest to recuperate after his trying experiences in Franco and Flanders. Twice 'his gallant conduct on the battlefield has been mentioned in despatches, but of the circumstances attaching t„ these incidents Dr. Marlrh declined (o speak. Speaking of Tommy Atkins as' he found him. Dr. Martin said that the "British soldier was splendid. He was very cheerful, he was not afraid to die, he could inarch on, although he knew that that march led to certain death, and the only thing that really upset him was the'irns. ami that was'because he did not understand it. The British Army was now supplied with masks, Imt these were not i|llUe. effective, although vry nenr it. There was a ;-'i'eat deal of doubt as to what the pas contained. Some supposed it. to 'be a mixture of chlorine and bromine, but a famous Swiss scientist was of the opinion that it was azolie acid made from ammonia, and that fbe Germans eunld produce any (inaniily of-it. very cheaply, lie saw several of the men die from poisoning, and it waR one of the most terrible sights connected with even a military hospital. "It is just as though an sufferer while in his worst paroxysm were strangled bv a cord," said the doctor. Most'of the sufferers bad died, and the survivors would be crippled for life. Dr. Martin spoke appreciatively of the magnificent work of the famous French seventy-six halterv and of tberepntation won by General Davies, the only New Zealand general in France.