Gas Warfare in World War I. The 89th. Division Comes into the Line, August 1918

摘要

The gas attack on the 89th Division on the night of 7 - 8 August while relieving the 82nd was, reported. For a single punishing bombardment, it was certainly one of the most successful mustard gas attacks of the war against American troops. Although the Germans had introduced mustard gas twelve months before this attack, the necessary gas discipline and defensive doctrine to combat mustard gas had only recently been formulated. Nevertheless, its is probable that all American troops then in the line or training in France were apprised of this doctrine, however much they tended to ignore it until its neccessity was proved by experience. The gas attack of 7 -8 August on the 89th Division is therefore of considerable historical interest as a lesson in 'bitter experience' as well as for the number of directives that resulted concerning 'the most dangerous thing we have to cope with at the front'.