GAS WARFARE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 183, 5 August 1933, Page 7

GAS WARFARE

AN INTERESTING REVIEW ADDRESS BY MEDICAL MAN. METHODS OP ATTACK AND DEEE.XO E. Captain G. H. Thompson, N.Z. Medical Corps, of New Plymouth, visited Wanganui recently and gave a most interesting lecture to the Garrison Officers’ Club and the N.C.O.’s of the Wellington West Coast Regiment on ‘ ‘Gas Warfare." Captain Thompson has made a wide study of the subject and dealt with the many phases of gas warfare, and the various protectin' methods which have been developed since the first gas attack at Ypres in 1915. “It has been stated by medical authorities that, had anti typhoid inoculation arid tetanus anti toxin not been discovered prior to hostilities in 1914, the world war would have ended in a stalemate within !>’ months.” said Captain Thompson. “It might now be prophesied that an army entering war without a thorough knowledge of gas discipline and without the available means of protection would be decimated within a month, when matched against another army fully conversant with the weapon and armed accordingly. Such a prophesy must be accepted as cold fact. That being the case 1 have no need to offer an excuse for> niy subject to night. The First Use of Gas. 44 1 t is necessary that I open my subject with a brief historical sketch of the first use of the weapon. All of you should have heard of Ypres and perhaps you know that there were three distinct battles of Ypres. It is the second that enters our review tonight. The second battle of Ypres commenced on April 22, 1915, and finished on May 13. It was fought against terrific odds in man-power and gun-power with the added horror of poison gas used against defenceless men. It therefore rapidly developed into a soldiers’ hand-to-hand battle without direction and practically no rules or textbook operations—where we won by the sheer fighting quality of the British and Canadian soldiers. It settled in th e minds of the soldiers for all time that—as this race had believed for generations—he was equal to more than two Continental soldiers. Remember, when men talk of internationalism and equality that the latter cannot exist in war os long as the British soldier remains what he is—the best fighter of them all. That may be irrelevant to our subject, but it is the lesson of the second battle o« Ypres. 44 On April 22, 1915, the northern line of the Ypres salient from Steenstratte to Langemarck in front of the Yser canal, was held by a French Colonial Division, Zouaves and Turcos. On their immediate right was the Canadian Division. At 6.30 p.m.—a quiet spring evening with a gentle north-east wind blowing from the German lines—artillery observers reported to headquarters that a curious green smoke was billowing in clouds over the French lines—that was the plain intimation tha: the exponents of Kultur had broken the articles of war, and, in—apparently—an experimental frame of mind, had added poison gas to the weapons of civilised warfare.

4 4 The gas used, was chlorine gas, pumped from cylinders in the German front line:—The result: The complete rout of the French Colonial troops—for w’hjch no blame can be laid at their door; leaving many hundreds stricken and dead in their lines, they fell back on to the Canadian Reserves who were astounded to see their dark faces contorted in agony as they gasped and coughed, a bloody frotfr issuing from their blue lips. The tactical result was a gap or four miles wide in the line, a gap through which the German troops were pouring,

backed by an increasing artillery bombardment. At the same time the Canadians commenced to smell a sickly odour that caught their breath and effected them with a deadly nausea. This gap, which left the way open to Ypres, was gradually filled with Canalians and units from the 28th Division under the command of Colonel Geddes, of the Buffs. Perhaps I need not say any more; but the salient was saved. “I shall just refer to the second gas attack:—lt was at 3 a.in. on the 24tli; the official record is as follows: ‘The

[ gas (chlorine) was pumped from cylinders, and rising in a cloud, at is maximum seven feet high, reached the i British lines in two minutes. Thickest close to the ground, it filled every crevice. Instinct had already taught our men what to do. A wet handkerchief around the mouth helped— to stand on the feet was safer than to crouch—to advance was better than to 1 retire, for to retire meant staying in j the moving cloud and the exertion of | movement meant deeper breathing of L the fumes.’

4 ‘Gas.—What it means.’’ 44 Gas is a term used to denote any chemical substance, solid, liquid or vapour, employed as a weapon for its poisonous or irritant effects on the human body. Such gases are generally dispersed in the air as vapour or poisonous smokes, and exercise their action on personnel ■ exposed to the contaminated air. Some such as mustard gas also net by direct contact of the liquid with the body surface. Action of Gas on Personnel, ‘ 4 War gases may be grouped according to their predominant effect on personnel. Most, gases affect more tnan one part of the body, but each may be drafted into a type owing to its predominant action. Now J must explain hero that tonight 1 am not going to do more than totich very lightly on the symptoms, pathology and treatment of gas casualties. As a medical officer it is to me nimost the whole subject; but to you, unless you become a casualty in the next N.Z.E.F., it is of little importance. Your line of action is to avoid becoming such a casualty, and my job to-night is to indicate that line, i.e,, to describe anti-gas discipline. 3 o revert to the classification of gasses. Depending on part of the body affected they are: * 4 (1) ’Vesicants of blistering gases mustard gas and Lewisite). These substances either as solids, liquids or vapour, damage any part of the body with which they come in contact They cause acute inflammation of the’ membranes of the eyes, the respiratory system, and the skin, followed by blisters. Death, when it occurs is usually the result of secondary infection bv bacteria on the already damaged tissues. They are therefore used as casualty producers. Furthermore, the greater danger of mustard gas above all gases is that its actions are delayed actions. No sign of th© trouble may show up until many hours have passed, also the vapour of mustard gas is absorbed rapidly by oils and thus is taken up easily by sweat-soaked clothes, thereby penetrating to the skin. Therefore its action is worse where sweating is frequent; in these regions it causes dreadful burns. . Lewisite has not yet been used. It is similar to, though less dangerous than, mustard in all its actions, and was brought, into being by the American Chemical War Service in 1918.

44 (2) Lung irritants of suffocating gases (e.g., phosgene, chlorine, chloropicrin, etc.). These are used in gaseous state as clouds from generators and exert their most marked effect upon the deeper respiratory system, i.e., the lung cells. This results rapidly in pulmonary oedema, i.e., really a waterlogging of the lungs, and is therefore liable to kill by asphyxiation. They are also lachrymators. They are used primarily as lethal agents to de-cimate the opposing army.

44 (3) Sensory irritants (e.g., diphenylchlorarsine, diphenylcyanoarsine). They are termed the 4 4 arsenite irritators” and are chemical compounds. These compounds form clouds of flue particles which cause intense burning and itching in the nose, eyes, and throat; but these effects are only temporary and clear upon removal from exposure. They are used as harassing agents. Also, they passed through the respirator worn during the war, and the Germans used them a great deal in 1918, hoping that the men would think their respirators were no good and remove them, thus exposing themselves to phosgene, etc., sent over with them. 4 4 (4) Lachrymators or eye-irritants, tear gases (e.g., bromobenzyl cyanide, xylyl bromide, etc.). In extremely low concentrations these have an immediate and violent irritant action on the eyes, causing a sudden and profuse flow of tears, pain and spasm of eyelids. But the effects do not outlast the exposure, and there is no damage to the eyes afterwards. In heavy concentrations they have a similar effect to lung irritants. 44 (5) Direct poisons of the nervous system, or paralysants, e.g., hydrocyanic acid gag (H.C.N.). In sufficient concentrations these act with great rapidity on the vital functions of the nervous system, death being a matter of a minute or less. The symptoms are: Headache followed by giddiness, unsciousness and death.

44 (6) There are dangerous gases not actually used as wdhpons, which, however, occur in warfare as in civil life. C.O. (carbon monoxide) interferes with the respiratory functions of the blood, and is found in dug-outs where braziers are burnt without adequate ventilation; in pill-boxes where machine-guns are fired; and similar places. Its action which disappears on ventilation, consists of interfering with the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen—the manner of its action I need not bother you with: Headache, tiredness, weakness and red face may be only signs. 44 Gas Shell Attacks.—Up to the present this is the most common method of sending out, gas. Except on targets close to friendly troops the use of gas shell is independent of wind. As the amount of gas per shell is small, the exigencies of ammunition supply control the extent that gas shell may be

used; but it may bo fired from any calibre gun and is usually liquid in the shell. Gas shell may be expected in any bombardment, and its manner of use may indicate the enemy’s intentions, viz., if he intended to rush your front lines to occupy them, he would not deluge them with persistent gas which would prevent his own troops occupying the area, but, ho would subject them to a concentrated heavy fire of non-persistent gas which would prevent, bis own troops occupying the area, but ho would subject them to a concentrated heavy fire of non-persist-ent gas to effect surprise or casualties; or he would even use cloud mixed in a, general smoke screen, etc., as •or instance, inocuous smoke might come over a front extending for a mile or so, but. one area in it might receive concentrated poisonous *fumes. Sm *. an occurrence would mean that the enemy intended a raid or rush at that spot. So, you can multiply the uses according to your ingenuity! Gas may be used purely as an harassing agent. A. few shells thrown over a wide area at. odd intervals of time will force an enemy to keep on the alert —to wear respirators and so on—in other words to fag himself out and also to upset the morale of the troops, '['here is a great deal in bluffing and forcing the enemy to show his hand by uncovering his secret machine-gun positions and gun batteries. Again, gas may be used for heavily contaminating an area with persistent, gas such as mustard, so as to render the ground, or a road, or a dump, or a railhead, untenable. There is a difference

between gas and other weapons that one should mention. An ordinary time or percussion h.e. or composite shell is no longer dangerous once the last fragment has hit the ground; also, you can interpose some protection between you and a shell, such as an inequality of the ground. On the other hand gas shell only commences to get dangerous after it has burst and it may remain dangerous for many days or weeks. Again, by virtue of being a vapour heavier than air, it may reach into any place or cranny.” . The speaker then dealt with defensive measures against gas attacks, outlining the precautions adopted in the Great War. “In conclusion,! should like to comment. on recent Press utterances in England,” he said. “These papers, mistaking journalism and sensationalism for synonymous terms, have rumourc'Y the discovery of lethal gases so potent that a few bombs dropped in London would annihilate the population. By the laws of chemistry and physics that is impossible of attainment. Furthermore, it may comfort you to know that the British chemist is second to none; and if any enemy goes far, we can go farther.” The speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address.