The first use on the western front came several months later on 2 at the village of Langemarck near Ypres. It was a tearing agent dispersed by artillery shell. The first reported use of gas was by the Germans on the eastern front on. There was no mask that could offer protection from the blistering mustard gas which attacks all exposed flesh. This type of mask was not effective in filtering out the more deadly phosgene and diphosgene gases. The cannister gas mask was developed to protect the soldier from the use of chlorine gas and tearing agents such as xylyl bromide. These would be moistened with water to improve their effectiveness in filtering out the gas. The first army issue gas masks were little more than gauze bandages with ties. They convey the experience of gas warfare better than any photographs.)
(See the paintings "Hell" by Leroux and "Soldats Masques" by Zingg in The Fractal Gallery. Add a gas mask to the already surreal atmosphere of an offensive's rolling bombardments and heavy machine gun fire, and what you got must have been close to hell. Gas was a nuisance, a crippling nuisance, often only wounding and causing widespread panic instead of outright killing. The Germans have been credited with the first use, but the French and English were not far behind. The horrors of gas warfare had never been seen on a battlefield until 1915. The use of gas at Langemarck ø as reported in the New York Tribune, April 27, 1915 Met no resistance at all, the French at their front being virtually paralyzed." It is believed that the Germans, who charged in behind the vapor, Nausea and faintness, followed by an utter collapse. Ground like a swamp mist and drifted toward the French trenches on a brisk wind.
Trenches on the Web - Armory: Gas Warfare
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