auld: methods of gas warfare 55 



The lachrymator shells are less depended upon than formerly 

 for '^ neutralization," but are still a source of annoyance. Mere 

 annoyance, however, may be an effective method of neutralizing 

 infantry. For instance, where large amounts of supplies and 

 ammunition are being brought up there are always cross-roads 

 where there is confusion and interference of traffic. A few gas 

 shells placed there make every man put on his mask, and if it is 

 a dark night and the roads are muddy the resulting confusion 

 can be only faintly imagined. It may thus be possible to neu- 

 tralize a part of the infantry by cutting down their supplies and 

 ammunition. 



The use of a gas shell to force a man to put on his mask is 

 practically neutralization. If at the same time you can hurt 

 him, so much the better. Hence the change in gas-shell tactics, 

 which consists in replacing the purely lachrymatory substance 

 by one that is also poisonous. 



One substance used for this method of simultaneously harass- 

 ing and seriously injuring was dichloro-diethylsulfide (mustard 

 gas). Its use was begun in July of last year at Ypres, and it 

 was largely used again at Nieuport and Armentieres. A heavy 

 bombardment of mustard-gas shells of all calibers was put on 

 these towns, as many as 50,000 shells being fired in one night. 

 The effects of mustard gas are those of a ''super-lachrymator." 

 It has a distinctive smell, rather like garlic than mustard. It 

 has no immediate effect on the eyes, beyond a slight irritation. 

 After several hours the eyes begin to swell and inflame and prac- 

 tically blister, causing intense pain, the nose discharges freely, 

 and severe coughing and even vomiting ensue. Direct contact 

 with the spray causes severe blistering of the skin, and the 

 concentrated vapor penetrates through the clothing. The 

 respirators of course do not protect against this blistering. 

 The cases that went to the hospitals, however, were generally 

 eye or lung cases, and blistering alone took back very few men. 

 Many casualties were caused by the habit that some of the men 

 had fallen into of letting the upper part of the mask hang down 

 so as not to interfere with seeing. The Germans scored heavily 

 in the use of this gas at first. It was another example of the 



