Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfare (2008) - The Black Vault

Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfareway to mutinies within the ranks. The British attackson Messines Ridge, Ypres, and Cambrai failed in theirprimary objectives, leading to significant casualtiesand low unit morale (Table 2-1). Initially, the Britishand French primarily wanted US infantry to reinforcethe lines, but General John J Pershing resisted breakingup American units and using them simply asreinforcements. The first American units, members ofthe AEF 1st Division, arrived in France in July 1917. Illpreparedto use or defend themselves against chemicalweapons, the American troops found gas warfare aninescapable fact of life in the trenches, with chemicalscontaminating clothing, food, water, equipment, andthe trenches themselves. American officers were reluctantto employ chemical agents for fear of invitingGerman retaliation.CambraiThree American engineer regiments, the 11th, 12th,and 14th, were engaged in construction activity behindBritish lines at Cambrai in November 1917 when theybecame the first AEF units to experience conditionsin the trenches. (Even before the Cambrai offensivebegan, two AEF soldiers from the 11th Engineersbecame the first American battle casualties in Francewhen they were wounded by German artillery shellson September 5, 1917. 29 ) On November 30 Germangas shelling intensified in the vicinity of the three AEFregiments. British officers ordered a withdrawal, butthe AEF engineers were taken by surprise. Some hidFig. 2-10. Proper gas training to avoid becoming a casualtywas routine for the American Expeditionary Forces in WorldWar I. US Signal Corps photograph.Photograph: Courtesy of US Army Military History Institute,Carlisle, Pa.in dugouts trapped behind the German advance whileothers used their picks and hand tools to fight. Most ofthe AEF units returned to take up defensive positionsto halt the German advance. Six soldiers of the 11thEngineers were killed from shelling (high explosiveand gas), 11 were wounded, and 13 were taken prisoner.29 These casualties were counted as British gascasualties in the final statistics because they would notFig. 2-9. US troops receiving gas mask instruction in 1918before entering the trenches. 329th Infantry. US Signal Corpsphotograph.Photograph: Courtesy of US Army Military History Institute,Carlisle, Pa.Fig. 2-11. US soldiers receiving instructions from French officersin early 1918 on quickly donning gas masks. US SignalCorps photograph.Photograph: Courtesy of US Army Military History Institute,Carlisle, Pa.24