Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 01.djvu/381

ASPHYXIATING GAS 303 ASPHYXIATING GAS ing the gas in such enormous quantities that it could have brought about the annihilation of whole armies. Giant con- tainers were being prepared that would By far the most atrocious was mustard gas, that ate through clothes and into flesh like vitriol. Chlorine gas produced suffocation and the lungs of the sufferer ■ P:/ ' (F^i TYPICAL GAS MASKS. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, AMERICAN, BRITISH, FRENCH, GERMAN hold a ton of gas, which could be carried over fortresses by airplanes and released with a time fuse that would operate at a given distance above the forts. Being heavier than air, the mustard gas would have settled over the doomed fortress, sometimes burst in the effort to breathe. Sneezing powder was also used, which percolated through the gas respirators and brought on sneezing spells, which led the men to take off their masks and thus be easily killed by phosgene and HOLE TOR FUSE VALVE OPENS ON HITTING PROPELLING charse; diagram of gas gun and gas shell making it impossible for any living thing diphosgene gases, which were timed to within its radius to survive. reach the spot while the masks were re- Various gases differing in character- moved. The Germans did not depend istics were employed. The less virulent wholly on a favorable wind for the dis- put the soldier hors de combat without semination of gas. Hand grenades and causing death. Such was the lachry- long range artillery shells filled with matory gas, that caused tears to flow so gas carried it into the trenches of their freely that the soldier could not use his enemies. Not content with single guns, weanon nor the gunner see his sights, they often used twelve or more mortars.