The Times Great War Letters: Correspondence during the First World War. James Owen
it has been conclusively established that the officer in question had not sustained any loss and that his kit had been safely delivered at the hospital shortly after he arrived there, and has ever since remained there. I am told that the Ambulance Column for the London District is composed of gentlemen of position and standing, who since the war have voluntarily given their services to the care of our wounded, and I regret very much the pain that my accusation must have caused, and as in all fairness your readers should know that the charge made against the Corps was mistaken, and that there was no foundation for any imputation upon it, I hope that you will see your way to allow this letter of withdrawal and apology the same publicity in your paper as you were good enough to accord to my original letter.
Yours faithfully,
FRANCES BALFOUR
WHAT GAS MEANS
A VISIT TO A FRENCH HOSPITAL
7 May 1915
We have received from a correspondent, whose authority is beyond question, the following grim account of a visit to the victims of “gassing.”
Our correspondent complains that the whole truth about this diabolical form of torture is not sufficiently realized by the world. The publication of his letter should remove any doubts on the subject.
Yesterday and the day before I went with — to see some of the men in hospital at — who were “gassed” yesterday and the day before on Hill 60. The whole of England and the civilized world ought to have the truth fully brought before them in vivid detail, and not wrapped up as at present.
When we got to the hospital we had no difficulty in finding out in which ward the men were, as the noise of the poor devils trying to get breath was sufficient to direct us. We were met by a doctor belonging to our division, who took us into the ward. There were about 20 of the worst cases in the ward, on mattresses, all more or less in a sitting position, propped up against the walls.
Their faces, arms, hands were of a shiny grey-black colour, with mouths open and lead-glazed eyes, all swaying slightly backwards and forwards trying to get breath. It was a most appalling sight, all these poor black faces, struggling, struggling for life, what with the groaning and noise of the effort for breath. Colonel — who, as every one knows, has had as wide an experience as anyone all over the savage parts of Africa, told me to-day that he never felt so sick as he did after the scene in these cases.
There is practically nothing to be done for them, except to give them salt and water to try to make them sick.
The effect the gas has is to fill the lungs with a watery, frothy matter, which gradually increases and rises till it fills up the whole lungs and comes up to the mouth; then they die; it is suffocation; slow drowning, taking in some cases one or two days.
We have lost hundreds of men who died in the trenches, and over half the men who reached hospital have died. Eight died last night out of the 20 I saw, and most of the others I saw will die; while those who get over the gas invariably develop acute pneumonia. It is without doubt the most awful form of scientific torture. Not one of the men I saw in hospital had a scratch or wound.
The nurses and doctors were all working their utmost against this terror; but one could see from the tension of their nerves that it was like fighting a hidden danger which was over-taking every one.
A German prisoner was caught with a respirator in his pocket; the pad was analysed and found to contain hypo-sulphite of soda with 1 per cent. of some other substance.
The gas is in a cylinder, from which when they send it out it is propelled a distance of 100 yards; it there spreads.
Please make a point of publishing this in every paper in England. English people, men and women, ought to know exactly what is going on, also members of both Houses. The people of England can’t know. The Germans have given out that it is a rapid, painless death. The liars! No torture could be worse than to give them a dose of their own gas. The gas, I am told, is chlorine, and probably some other gas in the shells they burst. They think ammonia kills it.
The Germans had used banned chlorine gas for the first time on April 22 (against French and Canadian troops). The Allies soon followed suit.
POISON GAS
WHY RETALIATION IS NECESSARY
11 May 1915
SIR,—I HAVE JUST returned from the war zone in France, where I have had the opportunity of talking to those in high command, to medical officers, and to others at the front. I have also seen men brought down to the clearing station suffering from excruciating tortures and distress caused by the devilish gas launched against our forces by the barbarous and inhuman German scientists, the precise nature of which is not at present known for certain, the various exhalations apparently differing somewhat in character, though chlorine gas undoubtedly enters largely into its composition. People safely at home in England have so far both failed to realize the deadly nature of this gas and its soul-destroying properties, and our soldiers have no means of defence and are utterly powerless against it; but, notwithstanding the apathy of ignorance apparent in this country, those at the front are talking of little else than this mode of warfare inaugurated by the Germans, probably the most devilish ever invented by human ingenuity. No troops have proved themselves braver than the Canadians, the tale of whose prowess will be handed down among the deeds that saved the Empire for generations to come, though they would be the first to acknowledge that their bravery and patriotism was equally shared by the British regiments who stood by them shoulder to shoulder; but I know that the feeling of these brave men is that, while they are ready to make any sacrifice and take any personal risk for the good of the Empire, they cannot uselessly stand still to be overwhelmed and tortured by this poisonous gas, against which they have no efficient weapon of offence or defence. Up to the date of their using this gas the British Army looked upon the Germans with a good-natured tolerance; but their latest methods of warfare have converted this feeling into one of intense hatred, and I would not give much for the life of a German who comes within reach of a British or Canadian bayonet.
In this intensely critical situation it is up to the people of this country to use their utmost endeavour to immediately put means of protection and weapons of offence into the hands of our brave soldiers. I note with satisfaction that steps are being taken to provide a means of defence which has so far met with some measure of success; but we must hope that, difficult as the problem is, our scientists may be able to very shortly provide a complete means of protection from the poisonous miasma. Next, it is up against us in loyalty to our brave defenders, in spite of Hague Conventions, which the Germans entirely ignore, to place at the earliest possible moment in their hands a “counter-gas” that may teach the Germans a lesson. In the preparation of such a weapon, however, there is no call to imitate the barbarous cruelty of the Germans, for a gas might be prepared that would produce temporary unconsciousness without pain, and at the same time cause no ultimately injurious effect. No humanitarian could object to this, and everybody would be grateful except those pro-Germans of whom there are still for too many at large in this country.
It is most distasteful to me to appear to write in a spirit of exaggeration or of an alarmist, but I have seen sights that arouse one’s deepest indignation, and I cannot help thinking of 400 brave Canadians brought to a terrible death, before their comrades’ eyes, without being able to retaliate, and I cannot forget the purple flush that I saw on the faces of dying heroes, many of them splendid-looking men and unwounded, but to whom the Angel of Death was appearing in most dreadful form. The time has come when we must stifle sentiment, and be prepared in every case to meet force by force, and strategy by strategy, if we hope to eventually come out victors in the colossal struggle on which depends our very existence as a nation.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ARMSTRONG