The importance of training the soldier to be able to meet gas cannot be overemphasised. He should be drilled frequently with the helmet on to accustom him to the feeling of it, and alarms should be sounded from time to time to teach him to don the helmet as rapidly as possible. In some of the military schools in France the men were actually taken without helmets into chambers where there was just enough gas to make them realise it was there, and were then sent into other chambers with a "deadly" mixture of gas with their helmets on. This training makes them realise the importance of helmets.
Many forms of helmets have been used from time to time, and in this matter as in many others we have learnt from our enemies. For the most recent British mask contains the "nosebox" or "beak" which conforms to the German model. As in most other things, simplicity is to be desired where it can be combined with effectiveness, and it is the simplicity of the cloth helmet with the tube that even to-day commends it to many critics above the "box" forms—those that require an independent supply of oxygen. Where men such as gunners are liable to be exposed to fumes for some considerable length of time, either from cylinder gas or from shells or even from tear shells, or must continue at their posts at any costs, an independent fresh air supply is necessary.
Detailed instruction also should be given as to what men are to do during and after the gas attacks; for there are some forms of gas that do not appear to affect the individual at all, and then all of a sudden, when he begins to use his limbs, he drops dead from heart failure. Instruction on this subject must come from the medical and chemical experts who have made a close study of the effects of gas.
Allied to gas is Liquid Fire. This fire is projected in long streams from the nozzles of pipes that come from a high pressure cylinder, sometimes placed in the bottom of the trench, and sometimes carried on the backs of special men. These globules of burning oil that are sent forth reach a distance of thirty or forty feet from the nozzle of the pipe. The effect of liquid fire is more terrible than words can tell, and it requires great bravery on the part of troops to have them advance in the face of these streams.
Clouds of Smoke as well as gas are used. One of the ruses that was adopted at the battle of Loos was to project smoke forward for a few minutes until the enemy should become quite used to it, and then send out streams and waves of gas to take him unawares. These are frightful methods of warfare which the Allies have had to turn to in order not to allow the enemy, from his violation of his pledged word, and contrary to the rules of warfare, to gain an unfair advantage. But there are many of us who believe that no other enemy than the Germans would have descended to these depths of infamy.
CHAPTER X
THE ATTACK—DEFENCE
Sooner or later in the course of his trench experience the soldier will be subjected to an infantry attack. Artillery shelling, aeroplane attacks, mining, etc., are part of everyday's programme, but infantry attacks come only now and then. They may come at any time and the enemy is not in the habit of announcing them beforehand. It is not likely that they will occur in broad daylight without any warning. If they are to be made then, they will be preceded always by a concentrated artillery preparation. Night is the danger time. There are two periods of special danger—one, the hour before sunrise, and the other the hour after sunset. At these times there is sufficient light for men to be able to see their way to advance over almost any ground, and not sufficient light for the defending force to be able to take careful sight with their rifles and machine guns, etc. Consequently these hours are the most favourable for making an attack, and every one must be on the alert to ward them off. These times are called "Stand tos" or properly "Stand to arms." While they last, every officer and every man of the front and support line is on duty. Rifles are cleaned, inspected and loaded, bombs, gas-masks, revolvers, bayonets, etc., are got ready, and every one remains at his post of duty. In the blackness of night and in the broad light of day the danger is much less and consequently some of the force can be relieved for other tasks, during the night, or for rest during the day.
Should an attack be made, it becomes the business of the men in the trench to hold the enemy off just as long as they can, at whatever cost to themselves, while some one telegraphs back for the supports and reserves, and possibly for the assistance of the artillery. Trenches must never be surrendered without giving these fresh men a chance to regain the advantage, and should the trench be lost, a counter attack must be immediately arranged before the enemy has had time to reverse the trenches and connect them up by saps and communicating trenches with his own system. No time must be lost, for the longer the delay, the greater the difficulty of making the counter attack successful.