Soldiers suffered greatly in WWI gas attacks

This military tale from 1915 comes from World War I when the Germans used poisoned gas.

On Jan 31, 1915, the German army fired 18,000 gas shells at the Russians. However, the shells had little impact upon the Russian soldiers as the gas didn't vaporize in freezing conditions. But it did hurt Germany's standings with neutral countries. 

Then in April 1915, at the second battle of Ypres in France the Germans used poison gas again. This time it was a green gas filled cloud five miles wide which hovered over the French soldiers. It caused panic, and death from suffocation. By 1918, both sides were using poison gas as an effective means before they attacked the other's line.

In all, more than 500,000 tons of chemical gas agents were used in World War I. Some 500,000 troops were injured and some 30,000 died, including 2,000 American troops.

An added note: When I was stationed in France, I went to visit the Meuse-Argonne American military cemetery at Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, France. The curator attendant was a World War I veteran. He had a very raspy voice and was hard to understand. He went on to tell me that he had been injured in World War I gas attacks.

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran and a business owner in Priest River.