ASPHYXIATING GASES. The employ ment of asphyxiants as special munitions of war in the form of shells or other projectiles, which when set free produce a suffocating and poisonous effect, is not new. From the earliest times the Chinese have employed various de vices of this sort, and in their ustink-pots secured such results. The French made ex periments with asphyxiating at Brest in 1851. The use of asphyxiating gases has al ways been discouraged by the more enlightened authorities, both military and civil. The Hague Conference of 1899 strongly condemned their employment. Lyddite shells were used by the British in the Boer War of 1899-1902, and shimose and similar shells, opaque powders, etc., were used by both sides in the Russo Japanese War. While not strictly asphyxiat ing they render untenable a larger area of ground than would be accomplished by an or dinary projectile striking in the same place.
In the European War, at the second battle of Ypres, asphyxiating gases were employed with fearful results. The gases not only
caused death but also produced great suffer ing. The men were seized immediately with an intolerable irritation of throat, nose and eyes, violent choking and severe pains in the chest, accompanied by uncontrollable cough ing. Many fell and rose no more. The greater part of those who escaped were sick for seve ral days and many of these after apparent recovery succumbed to pulmonary diseases. After the great outcry in the Allied and neu tral press against the action of the Germans in using these gases, the German legation in Berne issued a statement claiming that the French had authorized the use of similar gases two months before their use by the Germans. However, it is claimed the gases authorized by the French cause no permanent injury, but merely sufficient discomfort to force the enemy to leave his trenches. The British have also used asphyxiating gases in their campaign in Picardy and Flanders.