Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Gas Attack

April 22, 1915

The Allies are getting restless for renewed battle in the West.  The Germans have been experimenting with a new idea for prosecuting war, poisonous gasses.  At first they try a tear gas formulation, that seems to have little effect.  Today, they open the first battle to use the terrible weapon based on chlorine gas near Ypres on the far west end of the battle line.  The Germans are bringing to bear their world leading chemical industry, another example of the modern concept of total war.  Due to difficulties in delivery and gas masks soon developed by the allies, gas was never an important weapon in the war, but for a few thousand French and Algerian troops, it certainly brought a cruel and painful death.

The front is held due largely to the extraordinary courage of Second Lieutenant Kestell-Cornish, who with four comrades, held off the German infantry advance planned to take place through the cloud of poison gas.

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