Document 1: Will Irwin,"Germans Use Blinding Gas to Aid Poison Fumes," New York Tribune (27 April 1915), p. 1.


       Newspaper reports of the initial gas attack by Germany at Ypres emphasized the illegality of chemical warfare and the horrific effects of the poison on French troops. Articles like this one in the New York Tribune alarmed the American public about the unknown dangers of this new weapon.

Germans Use Blinding Gas
To Aid Poison Fumes


While Soldiers, Dressed Like Divers, Loose Deadly Vapor,
Exploding Shells Spread Chemical Which Impairs
Eyesight--Inspirators Protect Charging Troops.


(Copyright. 1915. by The New York Tribune.)


       Everything indicates long and thorough preparation for this attack. The work of sending out the vapor was done from the advanced German trenches. Men garbed in a dress resembling the harness of a diver and armed with retorts or generators about 3 feet high and connected with ordinary hosepipe turned the vapor loose toward the French lines. Some witnesses maintain that the Germans sprayed the earth before the trenches with a fluid which, being ignited, sent up the fumes. The German troops, who followed up this advantage with a direct attack, held inspirators in their mouths, these preventing them from being overcome by the fumes.

       In addition to this, the Germans appear to have fired ordinary explosive shells loaded with some chemical which had a paralyzing effect on all the men in the region of the explosion. Some chemical in the composition of these shells produced violent watering of the eyes, so that the men overcome by them were practically blinded for some hours.

       The effect of the noxious trench gas seems to be slow in wearing away. The men come out of their violent nausea in a state of utter collapse. Some of the rescued have already died from the after effects. How many of the men left unconscious in the trenches when the French broke died from the fumes it is impossible to say, since those trenches were at once occupied by the Germans.


Introduction Document
