Official German Press Report, about
the First Gas Attack at Ypres,
25 June 1915
For every one who has
kept an unbiased judgment, the official
assertions of the strictly accurate and
truthful German military administration
will be sufficient to prove the prior
use of asphyxiating gases by our opponents.
On April 16th the French
were making increased use of asphyxiating
bombs. But let whoever still doubts, consider
the following instructions for the systematic
preparation of this means of warfare by
the French, issued by the French War Ministry,
dated February 21, 1915:
French Ministry
of War Report, February 21, 1915
Remarks concerning shells with stupefying
gases: The so-called shells with
stupefying gases that are being
manufactured by our central factories
contain a fluid which streams forth
after the explosion, in the form
of vapours that irritate the eyes,
nose, and throat. There are two
kinds: hand grenades and cartridges
{There follows a lengthy description
of these}
Here we have a conclusive
proof that the French in their state workshops
manufactured shells with asphyxiating
gases fully half a year ago at least.
The number must have
been so large that the French War Ministry
at last found itself obliged to issue
written instructions concerning the use
of this means of warfare. What hypocrisy
when the same people grow "indignant"
because the Germans much later followed
them on the path they had pointed out!
Very characteristic
is the twist of the French official direction:
"The vapours spread by the shells
with asphyxiating gases are not deadly,
at least not when used in small quantities."
It is precisely this limitation that contains
the unequivocal confession that the French
asphyxiating gases work with deadly effect
when used in large quantities.’
Source: Source Records
of the Great War, Vol. III, ed. Charles
F. Horne, National Alumni 1923
