History of the World War, Volume 1 (of 7) : $b An authentic narrative of the world's greatest warMarch, Francis A., Jr.
History
History of the World War, Volume 1 (of 7) : $b An authentic narrative of the world's greatest war
March, Francis A., Jr.
World War, 1914-1918
In training, soldiers were required to hold their breath for six
seconds while the mask was being adjusted. It was explained to them
that four breaths of the deadly chlorine gas was sufficient to kill;
the first breath produced a spasm of the glottis; the second brought
mental confusion and delirium; the third produced unconsciousness; and
the fourth death. The bag containing the gas mask and respirator was
carried always by the soldier.
The soldier during the winter season in the front-line trenches was a
grotesque figure. His head was crowned with a helmet covered with khaki
because the glint of steel would advertise his whereabouts. Beneath the
helmet he wore a close fitting woolen cap pulled down tightly around
his ears and sometimes tied or buttoned beneath his chin. Suspended
upon his chest was the khaki bag containing gas mask and respirator.
Over his outer garments were his belt, brace straps, bayonet and
ammunition pouches. His rifle was slung upon his shoulder with the
foot of a woolen sock covering the muzzle and the leg of the same sock
wrapped around the breech. A large jerkin made of leather, without
sleeves, was worn over the short coat. Long rubber boots reaching to
the hips and strapped at ankle and hip completely covered his legs.
When anticipating trench raids, or on a raiding party, a handy trench
knife and carefully slung grenades were added to his equipment.
Airplane bombing ultimately changed the whole character of the war. It
extended the fighting lines miles behind the battle front. It brought
the horrors of night attacks upon troops resting in billets. It visited
destruction and death upon the civilian population of cities scores of
miles back of the actual front.
Germany transgressed repeatedly the laws of humanity by bombing
hospitals far behind the battle front. Describing one of these
atrocious attacks, which took place May 29, 1918, Colonel G. H.
Andrews, Chaplain of a Canadian regiment, said:
“The building bombed was one of three large Red Cross hospitals at
Boulenes and was filled with Allied wounded. A hospital in which were a
number of wounded German prisoners stood not very far away.
“The Germans could not possibly have mistaken the building they
bombed for anything else but a hospital. There were flags with red
cross flying, and lights were turned on them so that they would show
prominently. And the windows were brilliantly lighted. Those inside
heard the buzz of the advancing airplanes, but did not give them a
thought.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account