GAS WARFARE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1915, Page 7

GAS WARFARE.

IN THE YPRES SALIENT. GERMAN CONFESSIONS. The Cologne Gazette published on June 2 the first German account of the attack ou the north of the Ypres salient at the end of April, which was carried out by the use of asphyxiating gases. The unnamed writer appears to t-j a non-commissioned officer who took part in the operations, and he describes his return from the front after he had been slightly wounded on April 2)4. It is, of course, suggested that the French and English first employed gases, but the writer hardly troubles to prow the point, and he shows quite plainly how the,gas attack was, as Sir John French reported at the time, "long and deliberately prepared." He writes:— For months we lay over against one another and no pulling or pressing or shoving could loosen the iron defences. Every attack from or side broke down just like the attacks of the French. The determination and stubbornness on both sides made large undertakings impossible. Then a new arm —chemistry— began to play its part on the side of the enemy. The bursting shells of the French, but especially those of the English, artillery spread clouds which our supreme command very mildly describe as "betaubende Dampfo." .The use of these gases, which, as is well known, where employed also in ride ammunition, had brought the angei of our soldiers to fever heat. With a grim smile the men whispered one to another that the hour for revenge was approaching. Then came the great, long-desired moment.

WAITKG FOR THE WIND. The writer then explains how the gas poisoners had to wait for a favorable wind. He says:— There were never so many meteorologists as in the last fortnight before ihe attack. 'lt was an exciting time for as. There was one alarm 'after another. Often it was stated with complete certainty that the day had come, and a Tew Iwmr.s afterwards we returned depressed to our quarters because the weather 'prophets had again prepacked falsely. All these experimental alarms helped to increase the eagerness of our soldiers for battle. At last April 21 came. Our battalion was resting. On the night of April 21 we established ourselves in a thicket right iu front of our heavy artillery ana waited eagerly for the things iliet were to happen. Towards 5 o'clock in the evening of the '22 nd came the order for complete readiness, and half an hour later the major called to me as he passed,'."Now we are off." I took my glass, clambered up a small elevation, and looked in the direction of the tre'.iehes The writer then describes the. excitement of the troops, the reception of me--, ■■■a-res' reporting sin-cess, and the infantry advance, lie says that, as the gas poi-soners-went forward they sang the hardly appropriate sing, "DeutscTfiand hoc'.i in IChren." He proceeds:— It was with curious feelings that \\t inarched through the fields and villages, which hitherto we had approached only in the deptli of night, and keeping- absolute silence, as they 'ay in t% most effective fire zone. Exactly an hour after the beginning of the attack the major said to me, "Do you know Hint one armored train has already passed through L- ?•' The little town of L ,or rather the heap of ruins wiiieii showed where it had been, had heeievacuated by us at the end of October. For live months all our efforts to/rcTover it from the enemy had been in vain To. diiy one half-hour sufficed to colore it to our' 'possession. It will not bo evaluated again,'