In speaking of the first German gas
attack upon Canadian troops at Ypres,
the report says chlorine was used and
while protection of the troops from
it later became an easy matter, "it
was only lack of faith in their new
weapons that prevented the Germans
from winning the war with it then
and there."
"Had they brought tnto the fight
ing a sufficient supply of this
chlorine," the report continues, "they
might have gassed their way to Paris
in short order. As it was, they
brought to the line an almost neglible
supply and they themselves were in
sufficiently protected to go through
their own gas and follow up the at
tack. By the time they were able to
renew gas warfare the French and
British had equipped themselves with
masks which were sufficient to pro
tect men against chlorine."
The report tells of the development
of gas masks from the original gauze
pads soaked in chemicals to the "box
respirator" which came into general
use. The Americans and British em
ployed a doubt protection mask, the
face piece being gas tight, but to in
sure against leaks, a mouth piece and
nose clip being supplied also, insur
ing protection even in a torn mask.
The first order was for 1.100,000 of
these masks for the American forces.
