Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury

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fighting force including telegraph wire, communications equipment, engineering tools and
spades. 52
Snijders avidly encouraged military designers to experiment with and create their
own versions of the latest technology on deadly show at the Western Front. 53 The
government made f 400,000 available in May 1916, for the chemical industry to carry out
tests for effective military uses of toxic gas. 54 By late 1918, it had produced 380 tonnes of
asphyxiating gasses, and owned 21 receptacles to distribute the deadly poison. 55 In this area,
perhaps more than any other, the Dutch could have found a useful deterrent to attack, if
only it could have produced enough masks to protect its own soldiers from the poison.
Engineers carefully studied interned equipment, weapons and aeroplanes and, where
possible, tried to replicate them. In keeping with advances in aerial warfare, the Air Branch
even tested and manufactured aeroplane bombs, although it did not produce enough to be of
use in a wmiime situation. 56 Military designers tried special camouflage tents to reduce
visibility from the air.57 To other developments, however, the Dutch had few answers. They
simply did not have the industrial capacity or resources to build tanks, nor were they able to
increase the calibre and range of their artillery significantly.
52 Commander of the Field Army to Minister of War, 20 October 1919, p. 10, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale
Star' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 881.
53 See: the series of documents on gas production to and from the Commander-in-Chief in ARA, "Archieven van de
Generale Star' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 2; Director of the State Factory for Artillery to Commander-in-Chief,
8 March 1916, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 3.
54 See: correspondence between the Commander-in-Chief, the Minister of War, and the Directors of the Association
of Chemical Factories in May 1916, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 3.
55 Bosboom, III Moeilijke Omstandighedell p. 143.
56 Commander-in-Chiefto the cabinet, December 1916, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star' entry no. 2.13.70,
inventory no. 3; Director for the Acquisition and Supply of Artillery Materials, "Overzicht van de voornaamste
materieel, dat sedert 1 J anual"i 1917 bij de Artillerie-Inrichtingen werd aangemaakt of door de zorg der Directie der
Artillerie-Inrichtingen werd aangeschaft tot 1 Januari 1918" 8 July 1918, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star'
entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 696.
57 Director Central Warehouses of Military Clothing and Materials, 14 June 1918, "Beknopt verslag betreffende de
Centrale Magazynen van militaire kleding en uitrusting gedurende den mobilisatietoestand (tij dvak 1 Januari 1917 -
1 Januari 1918)" [Abbreviated report regarding the Central Warehouses of military clothing and outfitting during the
mobilisation situation (timespan 1 January 1917 - 1 January 1918)] in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star' entry
no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 696 ..