Riddle of the Rhine | Page 4

Germany possessed chemical factories which permitted
her to manufacture in great quantities chemicals used at the front, and
to develop on a large scale this new form of fighting.
The Allies, to retaliate, had to experiment and organise important
centres for production. Only in this way, though starting late, were they
able to put themselves in a position to supply the growing necessities of
their armies.
To-day, the ability for aviation to carry increasing weight furnishes a
new method for abundantly spreading poison gases with the aid of
stronger and stronger bombs, and to reach armies, the centres of
population in the rear, or to render regions uninhabitable.
Chemical warfare is therefore in a condition to produce more
formidable results over more extended areas.
It is incontestable on the other hand that this growth will find an easy
realisation in one country, Germany, addicted in times of peace, to
wholesale manufacture of chemical products, which a simple
modification in reactions can transform into war products.
This country, deprived, partially at least, of its former methods of
fighting, and its numerous forces of specially trained soldiers, regularly
organised and strongly armed, will be more drawn toward the new
systems of attack-- that of chemical warfare.
Chemical warfare must therefore enter into our future provisions and
preparations, if we do not wish to experience some terrible surprises.
The work of Major Lefebure gives an exact idea of the possibilities he
finds to-day in Germany, and through them the dangers with which she

threatens us. In this form it constitutes a warning; and information of
the highest order, for the minds who remain anxious for the fate of their
country confronted by the inefficience of the old fighting methods
which the progress of industry out of date renders daily.
By sounding the alarm in both our countries, I find myself in company
with my faithful friend Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson. This is an old
habit, contracted by both of us, many years ago, which we still
maintain at the present time to insure for ourselves once again, peace in
the future.
Together, we say, read this work of Major Lefebure. F. FOCH.

CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I-EXPLANATORY The Riddle of the
Rhine-A Critical Point in Disarmament-Need for a Balanced View of
Chemical Warfare-Some Preliminary Explanation--"Poison Gas" a
Misleading Term-The French Physiological
Classification-Asphyxiating Substances-Toxic
Substances-Lachrymators-Vesicant or Blistering Compounds-Sneezing
or Sternutatory Substances-The Tactical Classification-Persistent
Substances-Non-persistent Substances-Penetrants-Special Gas
Weapons and Appliances-Gas Shell. 17
CHAPTER II
-THE GERMAN SURPRISE The First Cloud Gas Attack-The Element
of Surprise -Lord Kitchener's Protest-German Preparations--
Research-Production-Field Preparations-German Opinion of
Results-Germany Prompted by Production Monopoly-Standard Uses
for Gas-Gas Shell-Further German Cloud Attacks-Hill 60-Origin of
German Gas Shell-Early German Gas Shell-A Successful
Experiment-Lachrymators at Loos, 1915-The Flammenwerfer-German
Phosgene Clouds-Gas and the Eastern Theatre-Conclusion. 31
CHAPTER III

-THE ALLIED REACTION The Need of Retaliation-First Signs-The
Loos Attack, September, 1915-The Somme Battle, 1916--Reasons for
British Cloud Gas Success-Our Casualties-Exhausting Preparations for
Cloud Attack-The Livens Projector-British Gas Shell-German Gas
Shell Development, 1916-Main Features of the Period. 48
CHAPTER IV
-INTENSIVE CHEMICAL WARFARE The Mustard Gas
Surprise-Blue Cross-German Emphasis on Gas Shell-The German
Projector-German Projector Improvements-Dyes in Gas Shell--German
Flame Projectors-Their Origin-Further Flame Development-The 1918
Offensive-Ludendorff's Testimony-Preparations for Assault-Gas
Defensive Flank at Armentieres-Fixed Gas Barrage at
Kemmel-Percentage of Chemical Shell-Gas Re-Contents
PAGE treat Tactics-General Hartley's Analysis-Percentage of German
Gas Shell in Enemy Dumps-Forced Exhaustion of Stocks-Yperite,
French Mustard Gas-Effect on German Gas Discipline-Allied Gas
Statistics-Critical Importance of Rapid German Production. 66
CHAPTER V
-CHEMICAL WARFARE ORGANISATIONS German
Research-Leverkusen-Hochst-Ludwigshaven-Early Formulation of
Policy-Movements of Personnel-German Simplicity of
Organisation-German Organisation at the Front-The Gas
Regiment--Early German Gas School-New Gas Regiments-Gas Shell
Experts-Inspection of Protective Masks and Method-British Field
Organisation-- "Breach" Organisations-Central Laboratory-New Type
of Casualty~Directorate of Gas Services-British Home
Organisations-The Royal Society-Royal Society Chemical
Sub-Committee-The Trench Warfare Department-Scientific Advisory
Committee -Commercial Advisory Committee-Split Between Research
and Supply-Munitions Inventions Department-Imperial College of
Science-The Chemical Warfare Department-The Anti-Gas Department
-Designs Committee French Organisation-Italian Developments-Supply

Organisations-British Supply Organisation-Allied Handicaps-The
German Solution--Departmental Difficulties-- Allied Success Against
Odds-Allied Lack of Vision in Production-British Lag in
Organisation-French and American Characteristics-Inter-Allied
Chemical Warfare Liaison-Inter-Allied Supply-Nature of Chemical
Warfare Research-Discovery of New Substances-Technical Method of
Preparation-Filling Problem-Protection-Half Scale Investigation-Two
Classes of Research-Conclusion-The "Outer and Inner Lines." 85
CHAPTER VI
-THE STRUGGLE FOR THE INITIATIVE Meaning of the Chemical
Initiative-Controlling Factors--Rapid Manufacture Rapid Identification
Essential-Propaganda and Morale-Peculiar Peace-time Danger-War
Fluctuations of Initiative-The Tense Protective Struggle-The German
Mask-Enforced German Modifications-Shortage of Rubber-Gas
Discipline-Summary-New German Attempts-Yellow and Blue
Cross-Yellow Cross-Blue Cross-"Particulate" Clouds-Potential
Production and Peace. lit
Contents PAGE CHAPTER VII-REVIEW OF PRODUCTION Critical
Importance of Production-Significance of the German Dye
Industry--The Interessen Gemeinschaft-War Production by the
I.G.-Allied Difficulties-Conclusion. 143
CHAPTER VIII
-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENTS Special Attention justified-Special
Value of American Opinion-Early American Activities-Field Activities
-Special Difficulties-Edgewood
Arsenal-Research--Production-Post-Armistice Developments-Views of
General Fries-The Gas Cloud Inescapable-Importance of
Smoke-Casualty Percent ages-Short Range Projectors-Vast Expansion
in Personnel. 173