POISON GAS BOOMERANG.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 10174, 13 September 1915, Page 2

POISON GAS BOOMERANG.

I have had an instructive conversation bore with a German soldier who has returned from the Ypres front for a few days' rest. This man took part in the poisonous gas attacks, and ho told me several details concerning this new method of warfare. "We lay in our positions for months." lie said, "and could never push forward a hundred yards. The British machine-guns were, handled too well; we could not approach the enemy's linos. Then, on the first day the gases were used, we gained over a mile. This was the result of the gas. You should have seen how it worked: it wa s fine!" My pleasant acquaintance smiled a broad smile. "Everywhere the bodies of asphyxiated soldiers. There was white foam on their mouths and their faces were black. Those who were still able to resist were feoon silenced with the bayonet. It was a ghastly sight, but it was the greatest victory our army has bad in the wholo war. Of course we cannot use the gas always, because when tho wind is not blowing direct towards the opposing trenches we stand a chance of getting some of it ourselves, and that would be less pleasant. We had some experience of this kind of thing the other day, when a British shell struck some of our ! concealed bottles and they exploded. J The gases came into our own trenches, and before safety measures could be taken fifty of our men lay dead on the spot."

"Will you go on using them " I asked.

"I hardly think so," replied the soldier. "The last time wc used them and ran up to the enemy trenches, instead of finding the latter emptied, as we anticipated, we. were received with a terrible machine-gun fire and a rifle salvo, and we had to hurry back to our own lines. Apparently the men had their respirators on and the gases did not seein to have affected them. So, if this process goes on, the gases will be useless to us. Unless, of course, we find something else, for German science shrinks from no problem, however difficult it

In reply to my definite question what the German soldiers thought of the employment of the gases, ho. answered: "They are a splendid weapon. For what is the aim of all arms? To make the enemy unfit to fight. This tho gas accomplishes in the highest degree. It may be that it is a. cruel weapon, but the whole war is cruel. And was it not the Englishmen who used it first?"— Central New 6 Special.