Sept., 19x9
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y
but in the summer of 1916 the manufacture was started at Leverkusen. The average production was 30 tons per month. The process consists of taking wood of even size, pieces of about one-fourth inch diameter, and soaking it in strong hydrochloric acid to which zinc chloride had been added. The acid was 20’ to 40’ BC. in strength. The amount of zinc chloride added was indefinite and said not to be very much. The wood employed was generally pine wood but it made no difference what wood was used. The wood was soaked in the acid mixture for half an hour and upwards, a small quantity being mixed up a t a time in lead-lined tanks. The acidified wood was packed into a closed muffle furnace lined with porcelain tiles and fitted with a stoneware flue pipe to a hydrochloric acid condenser plant. It is desirable that carbonization should take place slowly and very thoroughly. The muffles were filled nearly full with a few inches of air space above. They were heated to a cherry-red and the heating continued for from 6 to 8 hours a t least. It is most desirable to continue it long enough, otherwise the material would not be good. The muffle was about 24 in. square by IZ f t . long with an iron door through which the charge was introduced. The charcoaB was washed with hydrochloric acid in lead-lined tanks 8 by IO by 5 f t . The washing was continued until the soluble ash was reduced to a minimum and the finished charcoal contained about 0.01per cent of zinc. It was finally washed free from acid. The time taken for washing was in all 2 or 3 days. The charcoal was next drained on a grill and transferred to a It was finally sifted vacuum cupboard and dried a t 70’ or 80’. on a rotary sieve to get rid of the dust. The furnaces had a good life and lasted for about z years. The only replacements necessary were thought to be due t o carelessness on the part of the workmen. KO satisfactory test appears to have been arrived a t but the charcoal was usually tested for its absorption of hydrogen or oxygen. They did not test it for absorption of phosgene. Berlin appears to have tested with phosgene and did not agree with the result obtained by the oxygen or hydrogen test. Experiments were made with sulfuric acid and with other salts, such as sodium chloride and calcium chloride, without good effects. A visit was paid to the room in which the box respirators were packed but all the filling machines and test apparatus had been removed. We were, therefore, unable to get any information as to these. It was said that the number of respirators packed per day was 40,000. MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
AN ARTILLERY GAS ATTACK By B. C. Goss, Lieutenant Colonel, Chief Gas Officer, 1 s t Corps
Received May 29, 1919
Of all gas projectiles, artillery shell are most important either for producing casualties or for the purpose of assisting infantry operations. This fact is due t o the long effective range of this weapon which makes its use less dependent upon wind and weather conditions than any other means of projecting gas. The importance of this method of gas attack may be estimated from the fact that go per cent of the total gas casualties in the British army was caused by enemy artillery shell, and this in spite of the tremendous casualties incurred by the first unexpected use of cloud gas from cylinders in 1915 against troops wholly unprepared. Casualties in the British army due to gas artillery shell reached the appalling total of I 70,000. The use of toxic shell may be divided into three periods. During the first of these, from May 1915 to July 1916,only lachrymatory shell were used and while these lachrymators had considerable harassing power, no serious casualties or deaths occurred. The protection a t this time consisted of goggles,
829
impregnated fabric helmets, such as the P. H., and cotton waste respirators. Lethal shell came into use in July 1916and from this time on until July 1917,in addition to the lachrymators, such shell were employed, containing phosgene, diphosgene, and chlorpicrin. At the beginning of this period only the fabric mask protection was available. The British box respirator was introduced in August 1916, and issue was completed early in 1917. The third period began with the first appearance of mustard gas a t Ypres in July 1917and it was only during the latter part of this period that American troops came into the line. By this time a variety of chemical shell was being used by all the armies. The British army was completely equipped with the small box respirators and this form of protection was also adopted by the American forces. The French were using the so-called Mz masks and a special Tissot mask for artillery and medical officers. It is only with this third period that this discussion will be concerned. While the effect of H. I?$., or shrapnel shell, is ended immediately after the burst, that of a chemical shell has only just begun, and may continue, depending on the nature of the filling, up to a week or I O days. Moreover, the effect is continuous over the limits of the area of spread; in the words of the trap-shooter, “There are no holes in the pattern.” A bomb-proof shelter composed of barriers of concrete, steel, and earth, for protection against flying fragments, is of no avail against chemical shell, since the fumes can perfectly well pass around corners. For these reasons, effects may be produced with gas shell which are impossible with others, but for the same reasons, the maximum effects can be produced only when the properties of the chemical are thoroughly known to those directing the operation. The behavior of the toxic cloud following the shell burst is dependent upon the physical properties of the chemical, upon the nature of the ground, temperature, wind and weather conditions, and the number, caliber, and kind of shell, as well as the rate and duration of fire; and the choice of shell is dependent upon the nature of the target and the end to be accomplished. From the standpoint of the artilleryman, chemical shell are divided into two great classes, depending on the purpose for which they are to be used. These may be called “lethal” and “neutralizing.” With certain variations, it was the policy of all the armies to mark chemical shell on the basis of this difference in tactical use. Lethal shell are used to produce casualties and this purpose immediately defines their manner of use. Such shell should be fired against occupied targets for surprise effect and, therefore, it is important that the greatest possible number of shell fall on the target in a minimum time. To accomplish this, all available batteries should be assigned and should maintain their maximum rate of fire until the required concentration has been built up. It is almost never profitable to fire lethal shell for more than a 2 or 3 minute period on one target since by this time the enemy masks would be adjusted and no further results could be expected. Chemicals used for this purpose are generally not persistent and the best example of this type is phosgene. Neutralizing shell, on the contrary, are filled with chemicals which are persistent and vaporize slowly. As the name indicates, they are employed to interfere with the enemy activities by producing an atmosphere which is intolerable for unprotected troops. Suitable targets for such shell are lines of communication, camps, rest billets, important trench systems, cross roads, battery positions, or areas where supports or reserves may be concentrated. Instead of a burst of rapid fire, a slow searching fire should be maintained with such shell, scattered over the area to be neutralized. A low concentration of such gas gives just as good results as a high one, since it is desired only to force the enemy to wear respirators and thus cut down their efficiency in
$30
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
FIG. I-SUMMARY
OF
Vol.
11,
No. 9
GERMANARTILLERYGAS TACTICS
artillery or machine-gun fire, the bringing up of transport, the construction of new work, or whatever they may be doing. A good example of this type is bromhenzyl cyanide. Certain chemicals, such as mustard gas, while persistent and irritating in low concentrations, and therefore effective as neutralizing chemicals, are also lethal and may either be fired in concentrations or area shoots. GERMAN TACTICS
Since practically all new chemical shell were first introduced by the enemy, their tactics will be considered first. In the beginning they used their chemical shell, which consisted of “Green Cross” only, in much the same way that they used H. E., that is, in scattered area shelling. Few casualties were caused by this method, due to the fact that the cloud formed was not continuous and because the concentrations obtained were nowhere high. In spite of this, the results obtained were important enough to convince them of the value of chemical shell and they went to work on the development, both of new chemical shell and of proper methods for their use. Coincident with the first appearance of mustard gas, the enemy began to use heavy concentrations of shell on limited areas and the casualties immediately were greatly increased. During this period several new shell appeared: “Yellow Cross” or dichlorethyl sulfide, in July 1917, “Blue Cross” or diphenylchlorarsine in September; “Yellow Cross-I” or ethyldichlorarsine in March 1918; and in July 1918, the “Yellow” and “Green Lorraine Cross” shell containing, respectively, mustard gas and phosgene but with a very high explosive charge. When the enemy began his offensives in the spring of 1918, it became evident that a very serious study had been made of the proper tactical employment of thesechemical shell as a means of advancing infantry. Heavy concentrations of mustard gas were used on areas where an attack was contemplated, but the shelling invariably ceased two or three days before the actual advance
began, and from this time on until the assault, the mustard gas targets were strong points beyond the objectives, areas on the flanks of the attack, and cross roads, villages, or batteries a considerable distance behind the line. During the last two or three days, after the use of mustard gas had ceased, heavy shelling of the front areas with Green Cross shell occurred, continuing up t o within two or three hours of the assault. Blue Cross shell were used either mixed with high explosive, in the barrage immediately preceding the attack, or in mixed concentrations for casualties with Green Cross shell. In such cas& the bombardment was begun with a surprise shoot of Blue Cross, immediately follonred by a heavy concentration of lethal shell, the object being, of course, t o cause the inhalation of small quantities of Blue Cross chemical, causing violent sneezing which made it extremely difficult t o keep the respirator adjusted in the toxic atmosphere which followed. This was a theory which did not, however, work out in practice, probably because the cloud of diphenylchlorarsine was not sufficiently finely divided. At any rate, this shell was not feared by the Allies and caused little trouble, although we were always on the alert for a new method of projecting this chemical, which had dangerous possibilities. A summary of the enemy’s tactics follows. TACTICS OF THE ALLIES
Allied tactics were developed by experience in enemy gas attacks. Due to the close contact between the British, French, and American gas services in France, the tactics of the Allies were based upon joint decisions, and may therefore be discussed together. TARGETS FOR CHEMICAL SHELL : I-Occupied positions, such as billets, command posts, groups of dugouts, or strong-points: sudden bursts of concentrated fire to inflict casualties. n-Machine-gun nests, trench mortar emplacements, and battery positions: to impede the rate and accuracy of fire.
Sept., 1919
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y
83 I
FIG. GERMAN AN MINENWBRFBR GAS SHBLI,
j-I,ines of communications : to disorganize reliefs, hold up transport, ration, or ammunition parties, or runners. 4-Probable assembly or support positions: to deny to the enemy the use of ground such as woods, valleys, villages, farms, etc. 5-Working parties : to interfere with construction work and to prevent wiring of defenses. 6-As a creeping barrage preceding an advance: to compel the enemy to wear masks and so place them a t a disadvantage. ?-As a standing barrage after infantry objectives have been reached: t o interfere with counterattacking troops. For all these purposes, except concentrated fire against occupied targets and the creeping barrage. persistent or neutralizing shell should be used, since they give the same results with one-fifth to one-tenth the ammunition expenditure. WEATHER CONDITIONS: (I) Wind-The best effect with lethal shell can be obtained in winds of less than 3 miles per hour, and such shell should never be used if the wind velocity exceeds 7 miles per hour, except when the target is in a village or woods which it; sheltered from the wind. Persistent or lachrymatory shell can be effectively used in winds up t o 1 2 miles per hour. (2) Air currents-stability of air is necessary for a successful gas shoot. In hot, dry weather, convection currents rapidly carry the toxic cloud off the surface. This is particularly true of nonpersistent chemicals which are almost completely vaporized with the burst of the shell and they can, therefore, seldom be used on warm, sunny days. On the other hand, persistent
chemicals, with high boiling points, soak into the ground and vaporization would be improved on a warm day. ( 3 ) Humidity-Forty to fifty per cent humidity is best for the use of gas since under these conditions a cloud is more readily formed. Moisture in the air tends to keep the gas cloud close to the ground and therefore keeps up the concentration. A light rain or drizzle is no disadvantage but a heavy rain washes down the gas. During the day a fog furnishes the best opportunity for a gas shoot since it not only stabilizes the cloud but serves as a screen. Considering temperature, wind, and humidity conditions, the hours between midnight and daylight are usually the most favorable for a gas attack, and, in addition, surprise is more easily possible at this time. TOPOGRAPHY-The behavior of a toxic cloud is greatly influenced by the earth’s form, chiefly because of the alteration produced in air currents. While practically all the gases used are heavier than air, the effect of air currents is much more important in freeing high ground from gas than this difference in vapor density. Particular attention must be paid t o any deviation of the local wind from the general wind direction. Cases have occurred where long, deep, and curving valleys have caused the return of gas to our own lines, causing casualties. METHOD OF FIRE: (I) Lethal shell-Fire should be confined to small, definitely located targets known to be occupied and should consist of concentrated fire of z minutes duration. A certain minimum number of any particular kind of lethal shell
83 2
T H E JOURNAL OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
FIQ. J-GBRMAN
FIELDGUN
must fall on the target within this period in order to produce the fatal concentration. It is still better to largely increase this minimum number by concentrating as many batteries as possible on the target. For a linear target, this minimum number is approximately as follows: 3 .O inch shell., 4 . 5 inch shell.. 6 . 0 inch shell..
............................ ............................ ............................
100 50 25
Shells with the same filling should be used for any one target. Two shell fillings may be mixed to assist each other. Since it is necessary to concentrate more than one battery on a target, exact synchronization is necessary, in order to avoid giving warning by the arrival of a few shells in advance of the concentration. If sufficient guns are available to allow more than one target to be engaged a t a time, targets should be so chosen that the various clouds will assist each other. If the successive targets are t o be engaged for lethal effect, the down-wind target should be taken first so as to avoid giving warning to the others. Sufficient time should be allowed between bursts of fire with lethal shell, on one target, t o permit removal of respirators by the enemy and the consequent possibility of surprise. Lethal shell cannot be effectively used following a shoot with persistent shell unless the atmosphere of persistent gas is kept up
AND
Vol.
II,
No; 9
HOWITZSR GAS SHELL
long enough to out-last the endurance of the enemy in wearing respirators. Therefore, it is sometimes good tactics t o fire a burst of lethal shell on the target followed by several hours of neutralizing fire with lachrymatory shell, and then to put down a second concentration of toxic gas. (2) Persisteizt shell-Searching fire can be employed instead of concentrated fire, and area targets m?y be engaged without excessive ammunition expenditure, fire being distributed over the whole area. If a large target is to be neutralized, fire should be opened on the windward edge so that the effect of the first rounds will be felt over as much of the area as possible. While the number of shell required would vary greatly with the persistency of the. chemical, the following numbers of shell containing a highly persistent lachrymator would be required for average wind and weather conditions, for an area of 3000 square yards: 3 .O inch shell.. 4 . 5 inch shell.. 6 . 0 inch shell..
First Half Hour 70 40 20
........... ........... ...........
.
Subsequent Half Hours 35 20 10
A certain effect will remain for several hours after the shelling ceases, but the above numbers would be necessary for effective neutralization.
Sept., 1919
T H E J O U R N A L OF I q D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
833
FIG.‘%-GERMAN GAS SHELL
High explosive or shrapnel may be employed without harmful results either with persistent or lethal shell, since they add greatly to the confusion and difficulty of adjusting and wearing respirators. With lethal shell, however, it would seldom be advisable to use considerable numbers of high explosive shell during thesfirst 2-minute burst of fire. PRE~~uTroNs-Chemica1 shell should never be fired on a target less than 2 0 0 yards from our own positions, regardless of wind direction. With the wind blowing toward our own lines, or during a calm or light variable wind, chemical shell should not be fired at targets closer to our lines than the following distances: \
1-NONPERSISTENT
Wind toward Wind toward Enemy Own Lines Yds. Yds. Small quantity (up t o one hundred 75 shell or equivalent) ................................. 200 500 Large quantity., .............................. 200 2000 2-PERSISTENT Small quantity.. ............................. 300 500 Large quantity.. ............................. 1000 3000
The time which must elapse before unprotected troops can safely occupy ground which has been bombarded with chemical shell varies with different shell, weather conditions, and nature of the ground. Sunshine, rain, and wind diminish the persistence while low temperature and absence of wind increase it. In dugouts or cellars gas may persist for days if the ventilation is poor and, likewise, slightly volatile chemicals may remain undecomposed below the surface of the ground for a week or more unless the ground is disturbed by digging. With a 3-mile-
per-hour wind the approximate times necessary before the gassed area may be occupied, are as follows: Open Ground 8 min. 20 min. 1 hr. 6 hrs. 24 hrs.
....
Hydrocyanic acid (Vincennite mixture). Phosgene.. Chlorpicrin., ............................ Ethyliodoacetate.. ....................... Mustard gas.
..............................
............................
Woods 30 min. 3 hrs. 20 hrs. 36 hrs. 7-10 days
Following are some typical shoots with chemical shell, carried out by British batteries: NO. 1-COUNTER BATTERYSHOOT WITH THREE 60-POUNDER BATTERIES TAnr,ET-Central battery of a group of 5 hostile batteries which were causing inconvenience. VELOCITY OF WIND-2 m. p. h. GUNSEMPLoYBD-Three 60-pounder batteries (18 guns) ZEROHOUR-1 1:00P.M., June 16 PROGRAM-O:OO-O.O~ Phosgene-arsenic trichloride mixture. Two minutes’ intensive lethal fire t o catch the enemy before he can protect himself 0.02-4.02 Ethyl iodoacetate. Four hours’ slow bombardment to saturate battery positions and force the enemy t o use up his drum 4.02-4.12 Phosgene, arsenic trichloride chlorpicrin. T e n minutes’ intensive lethal fire with P. S. and S. to pass through the drum C. B. R.-P. after four hours’ wearing and cause coughing, and C. B. R. added for lethal effect RESULT-The various batteries in the group did not open fire until the following times: 1- 8 : 3 6 P.M., June 19 , 29:15 P.M., June 19 3-1 1:20 P.M., June 19 4-11:40 P.M., June 19 The central battery did not open fire till 11:29 A.M. on June 24, although i t had not moved.
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N B E E R I N G C H E M I S 1 R Y
834
FIG.S-GERMAN GAS SHELL. THE YELLOW DOUBLEC R O S S SHELL, NEW TYPE,I N LOWERR O W “YELLOW LORRAINE CROSS” SHELL h-0, 2-PHOSGENE
SHELL BOMBARDMENT WITH FIVEGROUPSO F 4.5 I N . HOWITZERS
TARGETS A B C D
Road across trench Trench junction Strong point Railhead E Tram junction F Road junction G Road and farm H Ravine 2-All Howitzer batteries (other than those detailed for counter battery work) that can bear will fire on these targets: TARGET TIME O F OPENING FIRE A 9:OO P.M. and 3:OO A.M. B 9:08 P.M. and 3:08 A.M. June D 9:15 P.M. and 3:14 A.M. 9:25 P.M. and 3:25 A.M. G Night.. C 9:00 P.M. and 2 3 0 A.M. 4th/5th.. ..................... E 9:08 P.M. and 2:38 A.M. F 9:15 P.M. and2:45 A.X. H 9:25 P.M. and 2 5 5 A.M. H 9:40P.M. and2:50A.M. 5th/6th F 9:48 P.M. and 2 5 8 A.M. June B 9 5 5 P.M. and 3:05 A.M. D 10:05 P.M. and 3:15 A.M. At each target six rounds per gun will be fired as rapidly as possible.
.........................
. .
....................... .......
....... ....................... ..........................
3-Messages will be received from the Chemical Adviser about 7:30 and 9 30 P.M. giving strength and direction of ground wind; this information will at once be distributed. I f in these messages the velocity of the ground wind is not reported as exceeding 7 miles per hour shoots will take place as above. In the event of the messages failing from any cause shoots will take place unless the ground wind is undoubtedly greater than 7 m. p. h. P.M.
Vol.
11,
No. 9
I S ALSO S P O K E N OF A S THE
RESULT-A captured notebook belonging to a n M. 0. showed t h a t one infantry company suffered 44 gas casualties on the nights in questioD from the above shelling. NO.
3-N.
F. COUNTER BATTERYSHOOTS
BY
60-POUNDER BATTERIES
OCTOBER11, 7:05 p.M.-Flash spotted from sheet 28 E. 16. b. 20.70. Twenty 60-pdr. guns fired 2 rounds chlorpicrin per gun per min. for 5 min., 200 rounds. Enemy shelling ceased a t 11:15 P.M., about the time our batteries opened, and none of the above enemy batteries again in action by noon October 12. Wind 11 P.M., S., 6 m. p. h. OCTOBER12, 2.10 A.M.-Front line being heavily shelled. 180 rounds fired as above in 5 min. on enemy batteries E W l , 2, 4, 7, and 16 (map readings E. 1. d. 99.89, E. 1. c. 42.70, E. 1. c. 93.23, and E. 2. c. 67.66). Enemy ceased firing immediately and none of the above guns reported in action by noon October 12. Wind 3 A.M., S. S. E., 16 m. p. h. OCTOBER12, 8:OO A.M.-Battery being shelled probably by enemy batteries E. W. 9 and E. W. 12 (map readings E. 1. c. 53.59, and E. 2. c. 85.37). These enemy batteries engaged by fourteen 60-pdr. guns firing 2 rounds chlorpicrin per min. for 5 min., 140 rounds. Enemy shelling ceased a t once. G u n s not again in action by 12 noon. Wind 7 A.M., S. S. W.,11 m. p. h.
Chemical artillery shell used by the American troops were supplied by the French. Only three types of shell were available in any number, namely, the No. 4 or “Vincennite” shell, containing a mixture of hydrocyanic acid, arsenic trichloride, chloroform, and stannic chloride; the No. 5 or “Collongite,” containing a mixture of phosgene and stannic chloride; and No. 2 0 or “Yperite,” containing mustard gas. Of these, Vincennite is practically worthless and was not in the least feared by the enemy. Of the two effective types of filling, the phosgene shell is nonpersistent and lethal, mustard gas persistent and vesicant. This limitation in the choice of materials must be
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
S e p t . , 1919
8.33
strongly fortified, could not be reached by our artillery, and as a result our line had passed several kilometers t o the north of this position on the plain to the east, while the succession of ridges on the edge of the Argonne forest were still in the possession of the enemy who were able not only to prevent further advance of our line but were inflicting heavy punishment on the troops of the 28th Division in the neighborhood of La Forge.
FIG.
6-WHERE
GAS SHELL WERE S T O R E D
AT THE F R O N T
borne in mind when considering the uses to which chemical shell were actually put by the American artillery. -4 series of gas attacks against the German forces in ChhtelChehery was made by American artillery during the second phase of the Argonne fighting. The enemy were holding out on the heavily wooded slopes of the Chene Tondu Ridge just t o the west of the village of Apremont. This reverse slope, which was heavily undermined with concrete Passages and
FIG. 8-CONTROL OF ARTILLERYFIREIN GAS
The village of Ch&tel-Chehery, ill Igo, ill 223, and ill 244, and the Bois de Taille l’Abb6 were especially troublesome, and it was desired that the fullest possible use might be made of gas in order to reduce these positions. Accordingly, the Chief of Staff of the First Army Corps directed the Chief Gas Officer t o station himself a t the 28th Division headquarters in order to assist in this work. On October z the Division Commander authorized the Corps Gas Officer to make all necessary preparations for the gassing of Chhtel-Chehery and the surrounding country and to arrange with the Division Artillery Commander regarding the kind and number of shell to be used and the conditions of fire. Orders were accordingly drawn up for gas attacks on three successive nights beginning a t 2 A.M. on October 3. The first of these orders follows: HEADQUARTERS 53RD F. A. BRIGADE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES AMERICAN
FRANCE MEMORANDUM No. 2
2 October, 1918 21.00 hour 1-A gas attack will be delivered on October 3, 1918, a t 2:00 hour by the artillery units of this brigade. 2-Artillery participating: 109th F. A. U. S. Concentration on point X-97.80. Y-79.95 108th F. A. U. S. Concentration on point X-97.65, Y-79.30 238th F. A. French Concentration on point X-97.79, Y-79.65 Fire on zone 100 m. wide from X-97.50, Y-79.30 108th F. A. U. S. t o X-97.60, Y-80.00. 3-The preparation will last from 2 till 2 hours 3 minutes. &Rate of fire: 75 mm.-5 shots per gun per minute. 155 mm.-3 shots per gun per minute. 5-Watches will be carefully synchronized. 6-Proper precautions for handling of gas shells during the service of the piece will be strictly observed. BY COMMAND OF BRIGADIERGENERALRICE ROBERTG. MACRENDRICK Major Adjutant
FIG. 7-A
GAS ALARMAT FLIRBY
The forward troops in the area of La Forge were notified of the proposed gassing and unit gas officers were instructed t o take the necessary precautions to prevent injury t o them in case of variable winds. At exactly 2 A.M., the three regiments of 75
T H E JOURN.4L O F I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C I I E M I S T R Y
836
OCT. 4. 2 3 0 'TO 3:OO
P.X.
Val.
WINO N. W.,1.5 Y. P.
11,
No. 9
9.
Finn 40 round-75 mm. No. 5's on Hill 180, 98.5-80.9 40 rounds-75 mm. No. 5's on Abbaiiale Ferme, 99.35-80.5s 40 round-75 mm. No. S's on Pleinchamo Ferme. 99.3-80.55 40 rounds-75 mm, No. 5's on Chehery, 99.1-80.3 O w . 4, 3:30 TO 3:*0 P.M. W ~ N. D W., i Y. P. 9. €I&RASSINCFirm 400 round&-75 mm, No. 5's on N. E. edge Bois de Taille I'Ahbe. Il*R*ESINC.
98.5-78.3
OCT. 4. 9:00 TO 9:05
P.M.
Wmn N. W., 3.5 M, P, s,
CONCZNTRAT$ON
200 rounds-73
mm. No 5's on Drachm. 96 7-79 0
400 rounds-75 mm. No, 5's on Cross mild$, 96.4-79.3 Om. 5, 2:W 70 2:OS b . ~ . WIND N, N. W., 1.5 M. P. a. CYNCKNYRATICIN
600 roundr-7S mm. No. 5's on Cross Roads, 96.3-81.4
On the basis of the present development of toxic materials, 40 per cent of all shell should be chemical shell which should be divided as follows: Mustard gas ................................ Lethal gas ................................... Lachrymatory gas
Per cent 24 I0 6
Letlral gas is of little value in long-range shcll because it would h e iinposriblc to piit a sufficient number of shcll on the tiirget Fio. GAS O m x m Exaxnnl~oENBPYS ~ JF K . I ~ M B TO N~S I D S N TGAS I~
mni. guns and the regiment of 155's r e n t into action siiiiiiltaneously arid eightecn hundred phosgene shell were poured inic Ch&tel-Cheheryinside of B five-miniitc period. It was learned from prisoners' siatements that a considerable number of casualtics occurred as n result of these bomhardrncnts. A prisoner from a German machine gun company slated that his company was entering the village of ChBtel-Chrhery on the first night just as the bombardment began. He said tlrat there was a pcrfrct hurricane of shcll and that thc troops were throm into coniusion due to the fact that many of the inen had eithcr misplaced their respirators or had difficulty in adjusting them in the dsrltness A quarter of his company was evacuated as cnsonlties. Similar attacks on neighboring targets were made on the t w following nights. On the day following tlie third gas attack thc Americans were to advance and a t this time the artillery was ordwed to fire phosgene shell with one battery firing a t tlic rate of one roiind pcr gun per minute lor ten minutes on cach oi the following targets: Chehcry, Plrinchamp Perme, Ab1iati:rlle Fermc, and Hill rSa, all of whicli wexe occupied by enemy macliirie guns, for thc purpose oi forcing the enemy t o put oil their rcspirators but without producing a sufficient coilcentratioii oi gas to be dangerous l o our troops when they irached these objectives. A t the same lime two hundred phosgene shell were fired aloiig the cdgc of the Bois de Tirille I'Abh6, which was full oi enemy mnchiiic guns, for a period of ten minutes. While it was impossible to determine thc part played by any one factor in the advance, the olijrctivcs ivere rcaclied niid it is believed that gas played B eonsiderable part. A record of tlic artillery shelling of those thrce days follows, togcther with ii map of the area aiieeted. OCI. 3 , 2:oo TO 2:o.s A . M . WINa s. s. is., I M. E. s. CONCBNIRITION
600 rounds-75 mnl. Xio. S's on 97.8-79.9 (vicinity Ch&icl-Chehcry) 600 rounds-75 mm. No. 5's on 97.6-79.3 (vicinity Chc%tel-Chehcry) 600 roimds-75 mm. No. 5's OD 97.8-79.9 (vicinity ChBteI-Chehery) 600 round-75 mm. No. 5's on 97.6-79.3 (vicinity Chhtei-Chchery) 600 r o u n d s 7 5 mm. No. 5's on 97.7-79.6 (vicinity Chatel-Chehery) Om. 4, 1:30 TO 1:35 A.X. WIND N. N. E., 0.7 )1, e. s. CoNCBNIRhnON
600 round-75 600 rounds-75 600 munds-75
mm. No. 5's on Draeheen, 96.7-79.0 mm. No. 5's on 97.45-79.7 (W.ChBtel-Chehery) mm. Eo. 5's on Cornny. 97.5-81.8
simultancorisly to produce
fatal concenlraliou.
B
Pro 10
f the "Yellow Lorrainc Cross" shcll by the memv %%Ithe late summer of iofS a new and imDortant - oDened . field. This shclt contained mustard gas but differed from the usual type of cheniical shcll in that it carried a very heavy explosive charge in the ogive (see Fig 5 , lower row, Yellow Double Cross Shell, New Tyl, cfiect of this was to atomize the shell contents in an irection and produce a cloud of fine mustaid gas spray With such shell a high concentration would be produced immediately and the casualties mould be much more serious By beginning a bombardment with this shell and continuing with the usual type, both the highly lethal and persistent effects could be obtained. ExPaarMsnrhL ENGlNnenlNo L*soaaroar NAT~ONAZ, Lawe WORXS
crsvarmo, OHIO
