instructions for gas alert and action during a gas attack 1916

8/8/2019 Instructions for Gas Alert and Action During a Gas Attack 1916

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S E C O N D A R M Y .: > ; /

Instructions for Gas Alert

and

Action during a G a s Attack .

'4r,th Auj/mt, 1916.

A r m y PrlntinK and Stationery Services. 72i 10,000, K/16.



I

INJJPKOTIQM c; 'J- ' Infaatry, Boi'ore Qolng into tholinoan inspectionofaLlTuslmete £3 reagpiratora will beoarriod out aslaii do /n in'"DofensiTre Measuraa a jainotGaa AttaokB", para.III {l)(A). All at5»loyed Ofrs. 5? men

will ftttcjid thi pOracle.Ofrs, helraota 6Jre jiraorawill "bo inapGCtGdfc aoertiJa.oate rondeied toIivi..H=>Q.that defective holracta £5 respiratora havo bos-.i GX.-Ldn^cL.

3)uring thn tour intho trenchea hclmcte & rcs Ix:i" or-Jv/illSQ insxroctod onoo awuok £5 aoertlfioa s r- ndoi'od

to BdosHoQ. that thcc ore ingood order or râz.

Divl.-Art.,pivl..5.E« .Pn.Bn.,fcPd.tobs. jni'ao 1 of

Q-voiy month on inapcotlonV7ill "be lifTd a3la.d-'JOVKI for

tho Inf*, aoGrtifiofitG boiMg ranfercd•'j'-- nivl:! Q« by

12 noon byG . H . A - , C .H*S- .0 .0 . ?n.3_2. fcA . . X - . 1 U S , V/celilyinepootiona vd.ll also be bold 6 -^^ V.VLzAay, viit

reporting to theStaff ex thG:Jr ia-matiouR .- Al

CorruaaalGva tare rcônaiblc that tueiv lasn arefrcfiuently

dill IInfaljiifitlngthe hclrxt. inthe caae ufthe Xnf-cn;riv Tifar. v ''.l be given 15 rains* drill at least 3tiraooduring; :ixc? TÔTL; inrestbillota.*Thedrillwill beoamort outfrom the ";/ind ])anscrous" position -will-r-.,T T r ffuirmorit andpack on.

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iW l 'H . ^ Y ( V K I ' /tK l '/ lOIUiV f. fJ iiJH,(V l\V '

S E C O N D A R M Y .

G . 221.

T H E F O L L O W I N G I N S T R U C T I O N S R E G A R D I N G THE

A C T I O N TO BE T A K E N IN THE E V E N T OF A" G A S A L E R T " OR " E N E M Y GASA T T A C K " ARE

ISSUED AS A BASIS OF C O RP S . O R DIVISIONAL

O R D E R S , AND W I L L BE S T R I C T L Y A D H E R E D

T O : —

1.- " GA S A L E R T . "

A "GAS A L E R T " will beordered when thewindis iu the danf erouH quarter, e.{/., N . - S . E , , no matterwhat the strength of thewind.

The order"GAS A L E R T " will boscut out to allunitsby corps,or, if anthority hasbeen so delejfated,by divisional lieadquartors, but brigade headquartersor battaMon commauderK are empowered to order a

" GAS ArjER'l'" from the wind observationsof com-l)anygas N.C.0.3, forwarded hy company commanders.SUCIT action will be reported immediatelyto the next

higher formation.

A " GAS A L E R T " will not he taken oft without

the authority of the divisional commander. When a' ' GAS A L E R T " isordered,thefollowngarrangements

will be carried out.

(i.) All helmets will be carefully inspected,and helmet inspections will be carried out dailyduringthe*' GAS A L E K T . "

{ii.) In thecaseof all ranks within1,500 yards

of the front line, the first helmetwillbe pinned on

tothe shirtthroughthe container in the " A L E R T "position, and rolled iu such a manner with thecontainer roundit, tlnxb thevalve isprotected, and

the helmetwillfallthemoment thecoat isopened.



(a) The second helmet will be carried in

the satchel attached to the belt, orBlimg tvomtheleftshouldeuPEKPKNDICULARTjY D O W N

W A R D S imder the belt.

(6) Under nocircumstances will auytliing{riflesecond lieluiet,etc.,) be slunj acrossthe

chest so astoimpede thefallof the helmet.

(iii.)The three topbuttonsofboth jacket and

greatcoat will be left undone. M en will.be for

bidden towear niackhitosh sheets round their

shoulders.

{iv.) Coats will not betaken offwithin1,500

yards of the front line.

{v.) Detached parties ofm en moving within

l,r>00 yards ofthefront linewill strictlyobserve

tlieprecautions laiddown in(ii.),(iii.)and (iv.)

Commanding officers will beheld responsiblethat

thisi3done.

{vi.) All working parties will have asentry

posted togive instantwarning ofagas attack.

(vii.)A sentry will bepostedateach Stronibos

hornor similar alarm and instructed initsuse.

(viii.)A sentry will bepo.sted atevery tunnel

dugodt, orother dugout holdingmore tbanlOmen.

(ix.) A sentry will beposted toeach group .oftwo or three small dugouts.

(x.) Asentry will beposted oneach head

quarters,signal office and Independent body ofmen.

(xi.) M en sleeping inrearward lines or in

works where they areallowed totake offtheir

equipment, will sleepwith theirgas helmets round

theirnecks, andmust know exactly where their

second helmet istobe found.

(xii.) Company GasN . C . O . s will report to

Company Headquarters, inreadiness toassistthe

Company Comm ander shouldagas attack occur.

(xili.) Medical Officers •wll be responsiblethat

a proper proportionof the ammonia capsulesissued

to them arewith stretcher bearersinthe front line

in readiness fortheir immediate useafteragas

attack.

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Hg^aa? gy UKia'« unita winaXso report ly T»lr©tothenext"hX^i&T fomat'lon, differentiating batweon ritnonrodftndactual g&s attack* Report will state tho time of theattack or alarm andthe position ofreportlnutint,©tR*,

'BO - 154th InfoBdo. O kB AIEPACK, French 74. FROM 7.A«& S.H."30 - 164th InfeBdo. Qfl5 A M H U hoard 9-3onn. onleft ofBEQ»

FROM 7.A0& 3oH. ^Q^^Pg ofSlmal _8errloe_, W am lng^messages roferring todkswill hepass'oA VallSignalOffloers inthe Dlv. as"Priority" mosdagGs, andwill beaatonatioally repeated until evoxySig,Off• inthe 31v,ftthe Slg.Offs. ofthe nearest Bde. and nearest Uir. offlanking Corps arewarned, the Signal Co. will ensurethat alistofO f floes tobowarned, corrected todate,& appUoable tothe Office conoomed, iskept ineverySignal Offloe*



(xiv.) Anofficer o n clufeywill b e detailed from

each Company inreserve, except resting battalions.

(xv.) OoinmandcrH ofunits inbillets within

12,000 yards of the front line treuulies willorj aiii iea system of { vuf thealarm a n d rousingtliem e nin cellarsorbouses.

2.—ACTION DURING E N E M Y G A S A T T A C K .

In tlieevent ofancJiomy gas attack, tbefollown ^

actionwill betaken.

(i.) T h e alarm will atonce be given byall

means available; by telephone, gongs, Stromboshorns, a n d , ifnecessary, b y orderly, a n d inaccordance with paras, (iv.) a n d { v . ) .

(ii.) All ranks wll atonco adjust their tube

helmets orbox reHl)irator8 and stand toarms.T H E R E S H O U L D BE ASLITTLE M O V E M E N TA N D TA LK I N G ASPOSSIBLE. M e n must bemade to realize that with the gasn o w used b y the

Gemians theobservance of this rule isessential

for theii- safety. Troops will m a n theirparapets,

sentries remaining attheir posts. All ranks are

forbidden to remain in or get intodugouts, or m o v eto ailauk or tothe rear.

(iii.) O n thealarm being given, allbodiesof

troopsor transport on the m o v e wll halt, a n d all

working parties cease work until the gas cloudhas

passed.

(iv.) Slionld the gas cloud b e unaccompaniedb y aninfantry attack, no S . O - S . signal willbe

sent, but the message "G a s Attack, Trench ".

T h e troopsinthe front trenches will open aslow

rate ofriflea n d machine giin A re atonce againstth e German trenches. All howitzers shouldbeturned o n to the enemy's trenches from whichthegas isbeing emitted or inwhich theenemyin

fantry m a y be concentratingfor the assault, and a

light barrage by 18pdrs. put onInN O M A N ' S

L A N D toprevent hostile patrols from followingup

tbe gas. N o intense S . O . S . barrage will be e m -l loyedat thisstage.



(v.) Should an infantry attack develop, the

normal procedure ofS.O.S. willbecarriedout.(vi.) Troops in the front line not affected by

gas must bewarned to be prepared tobringacrosslireto bear on the enemy attempting to advance

againsta gassedportionof the trench.

(vii.) If areliefis goingo n , unitsshouldstandsteady as far as possible unilthe gas cloud has

passed.

(viii.) Supports, and parties bringing. u p a m munition and grenades,will only be moved up if

the tacticalsituation demands.

(ix.) T h e blanketdooi-waysofprotected dugoutswillbeproperlyadjusted.

(x.) M e n in chargeof Vennorol Sprayers andFans will prepare to use them as soon as the gas

cloud has passed, so as to admit of helmets beingremoved.

(xi.) Helmetswillnot lie removed aftera gas

attack unilpermission has been given by the

Company Commander, whowill ascertain from

OlUcersandN . C . O ' s . trainedat the DivisionalGas

School that it is safe to do so.

(xii.) Inorderto guardagainstthe danger of a

subsequent gas cloud, all ranks, assoonas the gasIH clearand permission hasbeenreceivedto removetheirhelmets,willfolduptheirhelmets carefullyand insertthem insidethe jacket in the " A L E U T "position.

A sharp look-out willbo maintained as long as

the wind continuesin a dangerous quarter.

Similar precautions will be taken by men

equippedwith b o x respirators.

(xiii.) Dugoutswillnot beenteredfor at least

tourhoursaftera gasattack and should beventilated freely. Ventilation (naturalor by means of

anti-gas fans) is the only sure method of clearinga dugout. If dugoutshave to beentered owing to

heavy shelling,thisshould be done with the ut

most cautionand gas helmets put on at theslighest



trace of g as . The clearing of dugouts should not

b o carried out by m e n w h o have heen slightlyaffected b y g a s .

(xiv.) Special arrangements must bemade for

th e protection and warningofallcivilians within

th e CorpsorDivisional area.

3 . — A C T I O N A F T E R E N E M Y G A S A T T A C K .

(i.) Smoking will be prohibited foraperiod

of threehoursafterthe g a s hasceased.

(ii.) After agas attack, troops inthe front

trenches will be relieved ofallfatigue a n d carrying

work for24 hours by sending up working parties

from companies inrear. Horses should not be

worked forasimilarperiod ifitca n beavoided,

(iii.) No m a n . suffering from effects ofgas

will bepermitted towallcto the dressingstation.

(iv.) Eiiles andmachine guns shouldbe

cleanedaftera g as attack; oil cleaningwillprevent

corrosion for 12hours, but thefirstavailable op

portunity should betaken toclean allpartsin

boilingwater containingalittlesoda.

4 . — A C T I O N D U R I N G G A S S H E L L B O M -B A R D M E N T .

{i.) Gas helmets will he pnt on in the

shelled area.

(ii.) In theevent ofasudden andiiltonse

hombardmcnt with gas shell, alouaj alarm will be

given which will consist ofblasts from French

shunters' horns, which arc shortlybeing issuedfor

thispurpose.

(iii.) Aldugouts in thevicinity willbe'

visited, a n d a n y sleeping m e n roused.

(Signed),C. H . H A I U N O T O N , M . G . G . S .

Second Army,



i

FOR OFFICIAL USEONLY.

S.S. 127 andS.S. 535

" Gas Defence Card"

are cancelled.

[S.S. 620.]

•10 /W.O. /5796 .

B O X RESPIRATOR DRILL

A N D INSPECTION.

[Isfuedhy the General Staff, January, 1 9 1 8 . )

Your lifewll often depend upon your

respirator.

You have nothingto fearfrom gas, if

(1) Your resjAraior is kept in good order.

(2) You have harnt your drill thoroughly.

(3) You know how to recojnise gas shell and

doud gas.

A l w a y s be ready for gas. The e n e m y hopesto

surprise you,

\ V h e n gas isnoticed :—K e e p quite calm.

H o l d your breath and put on your respirator.

Clive the alarm.

(U iyj28) W t . >v. •i^SC f 'OOJi 1.1-* JI i S i.17/1U4(

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DRILL.

1. S L U N G POSITION.Resiilr.iNir *!llisHuKiMcr rlj;iit SIKIUIIIIT, Imvcrsnck honglnB on left

fililewith ]ii(;5sbuttons cloned aud l» xt to tl:cIrrty

2 . Tobring the respiratortothe A L E R T POSITION

from the S L U N G POSITION.O n llierc>;iimaml O A S A I . K R T . ifthe rifl Isnot niiiucplaoe it betwprn

the knees. Slip tlir trfi nnn thrnigli thesllneami 1 rinx thehnversnrk

round so tii.it it lianas Infront ofIliebody. Peiii tin-leivlher tabwiththe

Tidl't hand, elide the left band nptlieS I I D K , pmxp tlirlirana button, brtn

It down ar.dfasten It to theleather tab. fnilothepresa luttops. W ith

draw theieiii!thofnhliirard from theTii;lit-hAi)d compartment, pasa it

through tiiebraw "1>"on theright oftiielia\erf,ack, rarry it ruundthe

Valat and litttnIt to the"'I) "on the left. TJie press buttor.s will le left

undone, but theHapwill Ijetucked between theiHxIy iwd tiiehavrisnek toprotect the re-triiratnrfiom wi't,

N O T E -Wlieu it i.t[ou:id that pressureof thesllnB on theback of the

neek causes diseonifort (he tmvcrsaek m ny be supinirteilin(he Alert Position

by thefiJIowinK alternative method : —

The respirator 1» raised tottieehest and theulaek of the slirgollo'wed

to fall down theba<'k. The whi|)cord islasted Miroufzh theTtsht hand

"Tt " of thehavers<afk and Ihn.uith theslirn1eliirdthei:ack and fastened

to the left fiaiid"D , " after ndju-sting therespirator totlieprojier height

on the chest.

3. Drillbynumbers to adjust the respirator from the

A L E R T POSITION.O n the word OSIC.

If tlio rifleis nll.«Iuna, jilneeitbetween theVreeH. Insert thetlillnilis

between thehaversiU'k and thetwidy and open thehaversack flap. S lze

the naak with thericlit iiand, metal elbow tube in thepnlm of thehnnii,

the thumb and firv>l litiiierur splnR thewire frame of thenoseclip, at the

same time knock offtliestielhelmet from behind with the left hand.

O n the word T W O .

liiinifthe musk sTiiarttyout ofthe haveriuiek. Imlit ItInliothhands with

allfluKcra oiil.siiJe round theblndlnR, and thiinil« Inside, pointinB upwnnh

under theei;v»tie bnuds. Vhrotf theihin KfU forward ready toenter the

mask o|)|HMitJ' the noseriip.O n the vo d T H H K K .Itiinxtl;eriiakt.nvnrdithe (iwe. din the chin Into Itand brine the clastic

bands bark with the timtnbs over the crown ofthe liead to the fulle.\tentof

tlicrctainit'K tape.

O n the word F O U R .

Selie the metal elbow tnbe ontfllde the mft«k with therlBht hand, thtinib

on the rtght, flncer*on the left, i>oint inc towards the face. Pnsh the niliber

niouthpleee w.'!Iinto tiemouth and pull it forward until therim of the

moiillipiwfl Isletwecn the tectliand the lips. Hold the two rubber grii«with

the teeth.

O n the word F I V K .

Adjust thenoseclip, using thethumb and first three Angers of Itierigli"

hand.

O n the word SIX.

K u n theflngeni round Hie mask tomake snre theedges arc notfolded

over and correct anyfaultsInadjust(ucnt.

After the ma.sk has teen adjusted itshould liecleared as In 7.

SoTE.—As soon oxmenhave been thoroimhty inMiucted In drill by

numbers, practice inrapid adjiwtment nhonlil lecarried out asfollown;

The Kjuad should, while standing easy, begiven theword C AS without

vindna. tehercuiKin every manntutf hold kitbrralh, adjiut hisrespirator

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as ra|iiillyai possiMc mid W I I P H fhe ailjiutment Is complete fake a pare fonmrd

iiriiimin6 toatteiitlini. 'Ihls prurtii-e should also bo eaiTifKi nut on themardi. O n the uonl (IAS the squad hnlU uiilcarrieson as above

4. To adjust the respirator from the S L U N G POSI

T I O N . ,If the rirte is not slnnff, jilaoeItbotwepn tlieknees, knock off the sfe*"l

lifliupt Ironi behlnil with the lellhnml. JirinR the liii\erK»ek ronnrt so thutir huiijis in front ol the boily. I'ridii the jiressIjiiltuns nmlmljust the mask

.1* in;(, iillowinc tliehnvcrsaek tobanii by tlierubber tiibc. As Boon aal>nitei-(ioii Is obtained iiiljiistthe haversack in the AlertPosition.

5. To clean eyepieces.O n the eomninii.l rl .KAN K l d H T f:YEf l E C E , erlp the rlfilifereplece

I H w o o n the thumb imil llr«t flneer ot the left hiinil. Insert the Pr«t finger ofllieriulilb;ind Into the folrt ofthe mask behind the iight eyepiece and

dean itwilb apontle eirenlar motion,The left ej-epieee U eleaneil In asimilar way, w K h the foreflnger of thtileft band, the eyei'ierclicinghehl witli Ibe ricbt hand.

6. To speak whilewearing the mask.The iioseelipninst not Leremoved when speak inn. Before eaeh Pentenee

;i long breath must letaken and tlien the m(iutb[)leee removed fr<>m themouth by turniuK the metal elt>ow lule to one si<le. Theniouthpieee m n s C1 <• reiilaeod whenever breath Is taken.

Tbe HijUad should be numbered olT, extended, and orders puscd slongthe line

7. To clear gas from m a ! ; k .O n tbe command ri . KAK M A S K S , press the mask close In the fare with

tbe Imnili. forelnc oiif tlictnclosed air at, tbe siiles. Belill the mask withlir by bhiniii(!out round the mouthpiece, kee|>inti tbi finderson the noseclip

to prevent it« tx-iimdlsjilaeed.

8. To test for gas.Insert, the fln^i'THofthe Huht. hand between the mask and the right

il.ei'k, thufl atlowinH ciut.'*ide air toenter. I.ooHen (lierosecli]! itnd aniitc'-ntly. IfsiasUsmelt rejilacd tiosecltpand withdraw ftngeraof right hand,

tl;c ma.sk then beinn cleared as In 7.

9. To remove mask.O n tbe command H K M O V K M A S K S . Insert the finRpni ot(he ripbt

band under the mask !ittlieehln, lend the bend forward and remove the[[iiisk with an upward motion of the right hand, taking care not to strain thet;n.eiiieeo or tlieelaslle bands.

XoTK.—After U M ' tliemask must liewif*d dry ard folded so that tbeiiiwlilesof tlieeyepieces come toeether (no part ot the ma^k belnn lucked in-»ardil. The elasMc bands should 1« folded against the outside of tbe face-[ii ce on one slile.

W h e n (he ninik is reidaeed In the haversack care mnst be taken that-tbervepieccs nre [msliert down t,o the bottom of the compartment and tiiat

t he ou' let valve is not i'iuin|itcd

10. Practice in wearing the respirator.M e n should be made todouble atleast 200 yards while wearing the

mask.

Practice in f>erformlnff duties nhile wearing the mask should be ulren

iirstIn dayliffht and later In the dark. Infantry should practice movement,

use of weiqwn*. dh/ginK and rarrylnR. Specialists and men of other aniH

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O m c i ; r <Pr.i ,j]0

r e s p l r a t f . r in.iiiii i" (.ijiiii.ii.cLi u n i i i.Tii..*r I M H I M I ^ .

03 INSPECTION.i Q Resplrfttora will \ ' e . inapectwl ri.iilvin the A L E R T Z O N K , and at least_ > n M i weekly )n H I P T t K A D V nnil r K E C A U T I O . S A K Y ztxies. T h e y miiat^gtlways be insrcrt«d licfure protccdinK in!ci tlieA L K l l T Z O N E .'*'*s Theresfiiralor niubt be l e m o v e U itimi tliK haversack foiuspcction and. J he parts exaiiiineU iiithu fiillowiug order, seeing that;—C O S A F E T Y PIN iipresent.r-1 K l . A S l l C B A K D S and E E T A I N I M G T A P E are w j u n d and firmly

e e w n to m a s k .M A S K F A B R I C is not perished. Exuniine for small hoi' iv

V iiud e>eiiieri's aTiil riosei'lip. Tliese m a y he repiiiicd hy . • i^ i t a d i i t ^ i v p j)la.=tLT h o t h i n s i d e a n d e u t e i d c , b u t n i a s k i s^'iij ___ Lor3;ircl>anKed us soon as.i)Oi—itlf.3 E V E I ' I E f E . S arp spciirelv l«)Un<l to nia*k and not bent or broken.C O N O S K C I . I P jseirettivttwd flrnily atlathcd lo niHsk fabric. _rr-t M O l J T H l ' l l i C K is nut s p U l , loose, or atw r o n g angle, and that metalJoiner is ,'.th iiK'h f rom opciiina.

' - t M E T A L E L B O W T U U E m a k e s Bnatight johit wilh m a s k , and isnotd a m a g e d .

• O U T L E T V A L V E is not iierisliedor pimeturod, and isBoenrely attafhcd.j - K V A L V E U U A R D is firmly attaehed to e l b o w tute and free f ro m sharji

• R U B B E R T U B E la sound and firmly attached ut iMjth ends. Ifthet! <)ntaincr is attached at the w r o n g an le the niblier tube m a y b e c o m e twigted•• i kiiiki l.

'" ••\i C O N T A I N E R iswifliout holes or 8l«nB ot rusting l oiik fur rust on* -(--iiBct Tftlve and,ifdamatte by wet la-snapeeted, r e m o v e ^ulve and e x a m i n e

* V v Qateflor. Seethat attaclmieut of netk is secure.1 ,_7^ I N L E T V A L V E rubberdisc is in position.

- ." •'0Test valves as follows :—

3 OJ (n) I N L E T V A L V E . — C ' l o s e the outlet valve by iiiiicliingand atlfin]it,W l tiSblow llirouah Bioutlipiece. Ifair escajiua itis a siRn of a defectiveiii(<-t^ V ^ i e , or U-:i,k in lutieor rontainer. Infective inletvalves m a y often b e m a d e

1 by reversing the nibbcr disc..S ec that air c a n bed r a w n in freely through the rontair.er.(6 ) O U T L E T V A T A ' K . — r i a u e the jialiii of Ihe h a n d over the inletvalvp

n n d te t fur leakage by attempting to breathe i.ithronah mouthpiece. Siithat it)s jiossihleUt breathe out throiiah the valve. If tin- latterbe stuckowinit to saltvndrying inlf,thiscan beremedied by rubbing the valve betweent h L ' fingers.

Care m u s t be taken tiiat the container Is replaced in the haversack sothat the m a s k can lie ailiustcd without twistingthe tube,

E x a m i n e H A V E R S A C K , ?ieeln2 that thcrn are nn holes in the c a m - a sa n d that itin complete wtli sling, brass biiltini,Iciithcr tab, preas buttmi*,whijieord, '"l)'s," and melal platform for supporting container. Sec thatHer-ord C a r d a n d Anti-Uinmiing C om p o. < d t i on are present andthat the former Ucorrectly entered up. C h e c k the n a m e on the haversack to ensure that tliem a n has his o w n respirntor.

After insj>ectpon m e n shnuld be ordered to put on their m u s k s 80 tliatIt can be seenwhether A li containers have I w e n correctly replaced.

N O T E . — I n order toavoid unnecessiiry wastage ofBox Re plraljira,w h e n the C'ontainerortliehaver«,irk is found to bcdefccthe and the re.«plrat/irii; otherwise .serviceable, the cDniplctc lOHjiirHtor will not be condcranerljiiilreturned Ui Uidiuni,-", but "•• •'-'• -"•• • • • — > • , '• • • - ,'y haversack wili bereplaced, • . -

^ I

instructions for gas alert and action during a gas attack 1916

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