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Show NON-COMS OF UTAH'S REGIMENT ARE GIVEN GAS MASK TRAINING Instructor Is Veteran of Seventy-seven Attacks of German Gas in All Forms and Under All Conditions. By FLOYD A. TIMMERMAN, Correspondent for The Salt Lake Tribune, With Field Artillery in France. WITH THE UTAH FIELD ARTILLERY. AR-TILLERY. TRAINING CAMP, SOUTHERN FRANCE, Oct. 6. It's a real good, old world after all. It felt, this way this morning. morn-ing. Pr the first, time since the flea-hit flea-hit ten Utah artillerymen claimed t his I training camp as their home, wc opened t our eyes this morning to find daylight ' real daylight staring us in the face and we said good-bye forever to the morn- ; ings that we had to grope around in the dark and find our clothes and eat 'breakfast under artificial ar-tificial light. There is a reason, of course, and it is not because the bugle did not blow as early as usual. All clocks and watches course. They answered as follows: Sergeant Ser-geant Frank E. Beers, Sergeant Henry E. Youirg, Sergeant Elijah S. Davis, battalion bat-talion non-commissioned officers. Corporal Cor-poral Nicholas Crawford and Private Lewis 13. Chcrrington of A battery; Corporal Cor-poral Alma E. Wright and Private Ger-akLB. Ger-akLB. Orr of B battery, Corporal Edward L. Maughan and Private John E. O-'Don-nell of C battery; Corporals Elmer D. Bosen and Walter Burdette of D battery; Corporals Hugh C. Dunbar and Mortimer P. Decker of E battery; Corporals Edgar M. Larsen and Clem J. Hay ward of F battery; Corporals Frank Archer and Ernest W. Christensen of the supply company ; Corporal Clyde Bone of the sanitary detachment and Sergeant George B. Bowers of the ordnance department. Within a few minutes the gas men were swinging off toward the school with their new masks stung over their shoulders. A mile is not a long distance when a person is walking on hard ground but put him in sand where he sinks to his shoe tops and its a big journey. It seemed at least ten, but at last we pulled up to the long, low building which is used for "gassings." We stood there and awaited our instructor. American Sergeant Acts as Instructor. He came shortly in the shape of an American sergeant and from ''the unusual amount of "pep" he displayed it did not seem possible that this man had undergone under-gone more than seventy-seven gas attacks at-tacks at the front. We found this out later. He had really been in this many gas attacks, fc'-ome of them lasted as long as seventeen hours. He came out of them all safely. No wonder he was chosen as an instructor. Standing out in front of the long line of officers and men he began his talk on "gas discipline." He snapped out his words in a manner which bit In and his class was all attention after his first words: "The first thing T want to caution you about," he said, "is removing your masks after an attack before orders come from the one officer in authority. This must be the gas officer. Now, don your masks (Continued on Page Two.) in the camp went back one full hour at midnight last night in accordance with the daylight saving plan. It gives us one extra full hour of real sleej, it banished ban-ished the morning risings In the inky blackness, and its coining brought joy to every soldier In the camp. We read the program for the day's work immediately after breakfast and noticed that the list was headed by the following: "Gas school opens for gas officers of-ficers and non-commissioned officers." In addition there was a list of the officers and men who had been selected to undergo un-dergo the course and later watch out for gas attacks at the front and see that every man knew his duties before going into the line. It is practically the only duties these men will be compelled to perform at the front, but the way Fritz is reported to be throwing gas over recently, their days will be busy indeed, to say nothing of the nights. Already the gas non-commissioned officers of-ficers of the regiment were forming in front of regimental headquarters and preparing pre-paring to march off too the school a mile away.' Lieutenant Ray J. Cunningham took command, while Sergeant William Naisbett produced a slip from his pocket and called off the names' of the noncommissioned non-commissioned officers from each battery who had been selected to undergo the UTAH NON-COMS. GET GAS MASK Till (Continued from Page One.) and listen hard. Don't remove them under un-der any circumstances unless the order comes from the gas officer and in this case I am acting as the gas officer. "This caution is necessary, due to Fritz's trickery. Not so long ago on a certain American sector on the front there was a severe gas a tack launched by Fritz at night. The rule then was that the gas non-commissioned officers made tests at frequent intervals following follow-ing the attack to determine whether the air was clear and it was safe to remove the respirators. When this time came the word was passed down the line from mouth to mouth to remove masks and off they came. German Officers Slip Into American Trench. "This certain night, however, put an end to this practice forever. In the darkness dark-ness and during the hlght of the at-, tack, Fritz "put one over." He slipped two Germans into our lines dressed in the uniforms of American captains. They went down our trench line ordering the Americans to remove their masks and the orders were given In good, plain English. Many of our men complied, of course, thinking the commands were genuine. gen-uine. You can guess as to the result. Now let me caution you again thusly: Never remove your masks until you are positive tho order comes from your gas officer." The sergeant-instructor winked at an officer in the line and the officer promptly prompt-ly stepped forward and faced the line of masked men. "Remove masks," shouted the officer through his own respirator, which was snugly clamped to his face. There was a stir in the line and several men immediately removed their masks. Others hesitated and fumbled with their mouthpieces. For the most part, however, how-ever, the line of mefi stood fast and did not attempt to remove the respirators. "Come out here you men," he shouted at the guilty ones. "Step out every man that removed his mask. I just got through telling you a moment ago not to remove your masks unless told "to do so by the gas officer and I did not give you the order. Step out lively and take your medicine. You fell for the old gag like boobs at a country fair. If you w.ere on the lino you would be 'casualties' and I'm going to give you something to remember re-member that you. were 'gassed. " Men Are Punished for Not Obeying. The sergeant, with a cynical grin on his face, turned to the unlucky ones. "Hand over your masks." he commanded, and the men complied. The sergeant placed them in a pile on the ground and again faced the men. "Now fall In." A moment later he marched the line of men to the door of the gashouse and inside. In that huge, airtight room the atmosphere was laden with "tear gas" that hated, harmless stuff that brings on nothing more than misery and weeping, for It affects the eyes as would the fumes of freshly peeled onions, multiplied tenfold. ten-fold. Tears filled the men's eyes to overflowing over-flowing and they rolled down their cheeks and spattered on the floor. How do I know? J was Inside there myself. A loud "haw-haw" went up from the men outside when we emerged five minutes min-utes later, appearing as though we had just attended the funeral of a dear friend. We sheepishly took our masks as they were handed to us and fell back Into the line for the second lesson. The sergeant-instructor sergeant-instructor again took his post. "While these men are recuperating from their first 'gassing,' " he began, as he cast a mirthful glance In our direction, "I'll tell vou a few of the tricks that Fritz employs at the front, and I hope (again he gave us the once-over) that my talk will be heeded a little more than my first one. "Heinle has another one that got some of our men before we got wise to his tricks." he began. "At certain periods he will send over a flock of shells containing con-taining nothing more harmful than .the 'tear' gas that these men Just snifTed. Of course, as soon as they begin to come over the order Is given to don the masks. The gas officers then Jest, and, finding that It Is only the harmless stuff, (he order to 'remove masks' comes as soon us the stuff has begun to clear away. Gas Attacks Are Full of Trickery. "However, Fritz doesn't send over anything any-thing as a token of love. A few minutes later he will break loose with a whole truck load of real gas-shells, the kind that will mean heaven, hell or the hospital hos-pital for you If you take one good deep hroath. On hearing tho gas warnings a few minutes after the 'tear' gas attack, many of our men will probably think that they are getting some more of the harmless harm-less stuff. They do not hurry In putting on their masks and some of them even prefer tho 'tear' gas to the mask, and make no effort to put It on at all. You ran plainly nee what happens. It's a trick that will probably be pulled on jrOU when you hit the front, so caution your men to slap on t heir masks at the first tap of the old bell, and lose no Urae, "Another thing caution your men to keep as clnselv shaven as possible during all times on the front. Heavy stubble on the cheeks makes It Impossible for tho mask to fit. tightly and keep out tho nlr. BJcb soldier of the American army has been Issued a small, compact safety razor to keep closely shaven with. It will be to his interest if he uses It often. "Fritz Is also sending over a goodly share of mustard gas these days. 1 1 burns through clothing and Into the skin n.nd keeps on burning for days afterward. It spatters over everything, and to touch anything that Is covered with it means to get 'bit.' Wo live methods of combating combat-ing Its action. One Is the innov.-ition of tho tank wagon on tho front, which furnishes fur-nishes hot shower baths to men who have been gassed. Plenty of soap 1 used and a complete change of clothing ia then issued." American Gas Masks Are Most Efficient. After the Lecture wo were (old to don our masks and march into the- house containing con-taining the "tear" gas fumes. Hero we tested them to determine whether they were foully gas -proof and In working order, before being put through th hulls filled With the deadlier fumSfl. We found th&t the gas had no effect whatever upon ns when the masks were properly adjust" ed, The American manic is probttDlv the most effective mask used on the front, and our hoys aro Undoubtedly being hotter hot-ter protected than any of (he allied soldiers. sol-diers. Tho first lesson was over. There 1h st ill, however, much to be learner! by the gas officers before they lake over the responsibility Of 'he lives of the men In the regiment in gas attacks at (he front And tills Is what he floes. Ho Is responsi-ble responsi-ble for each man who Is gassed, lie must determine tho. reason for the casualty mid mako a detailed report. Ton many gas casualties In (ho renlineui will mean nil removal nnd his place will be filled by :i not her. We marched back to our quarters with a much greater resj t for (he gas mass. It may cause d ISOODI fori . but M l ft real friend. Training of tho Utah hoys Is still going Strong. However, there Is Still much In be done and much Instruction to bfl had Here the men do not gel as muoh lib-eriv lib-eriv and chance to mix with tho French people as during their stay In the billets nlong the mule to the camp. Consequently, Consequent-ly, many of them have been compelled 1 f , give UP their hopes, temporarily, of earning tho ETrencn language. However, some still tick' to (heir lesson books, hut. for- the mod part, the men would rather mix with t he French and learn II right "ofT the hat." It in dlfuVuH to May whether the "VjiuU1-" or the Kreneh peasant Ifl th W(M lngulflL, V i there Is little doubt thai the two have come to a great understanding under-standing through ihe joint creation of a. rroiii'h "patois," consisting of a few little specially manufactured slang and a whole lot of English. For Instance, a "Yank" will enter a small village restaurant, family style. He sinks Into the nearest chair. "Woof!" (This is an exclamation which, in proper French, expresses relief; re-lief; but the waiter understands "eggs" "oeufs" and immediately returns.) "Ow much?" Inquires tho waiter. "Pooee." (This can mean but "deux." number twelve, "douze" never being expressed ex-pressed except by signs.) The waiter scratches his head. The soldier puckers his brow end thinks. Suddenly it is all clear. "Woof woof!" he shouts, meaning two. The waiter disappears for the order while the ''Yank' compliments ; himself upon his French. A story Is now going the rounds that an American soldier noticed that tho cow of some good French woman had slipped her rope and was straying away. He ran at once to the house to inform the lady of the fact, never thinking that the words might fall him. They did not. ".Madame." he said "Salt ! "Promenade!" She caught his meaning at once, nor did her smiled, as she thanked him, betray anything any-thing but sincere gratitude. Ills words were "Milk! walk !" |
