The Second Battle of Ypres and Gas Warfare.
IMES
THE JOURNAL OF THE YPRES LEAGUE.
Voi,. 2. No. 6.
Published Quarterly.
April, 1925.
(CONTRIBUTED BY THE HISTORICAL SECTION (MILITARY BRANCH)
COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE).
On the 22nd April, 1915, the Allies held the line round Ypres on which the battle of
October-November, 1914, had come to a close. It formed a rough semi-circle, the north
and south diameter from St. Eloi to Steenstraat being eight miles, whilst from the town
of Ypres eastwards to Broodseinde was just over five miles. From Steenstraat the Belgians
carried on the line. Of the perimeter of the semi-circle the British held eleven miles, with
part of the II. Corps and the V. Corps (General Plumer, 27th, 28th and Canadian
Divisions) the French just over four miles, and the northernmost portion nearest to the
Canal. Unfortunately they had in it only two inferior divisions, an African one and a
Territorial one (that is composed of elderly trained soldiers). The Canadian Division
was next to the French.
The 22nd was a glorious spring day, and about 5 p.m. when firing seemed to have
died down and most of the troops were sitting about airing themselves in fancied security,
a curious greenish yellow cloud began to appear on the ground in front of the German line
on either side of Langemarck, and move before a light wind towards the French lines.
The French 75's began rapid fire, but soon coloured troops were fleeing through the
British lines, followed by the French Territorials in closed bodies. It was the first use
of poison gas in war. That its use was forbidden mattered little to the Germans, for they
violated practically every rule contained in the Conventions and Declarations respecting
the laws and customs of war and they showed their knowledge of guilt in the case of
gas by keeping all mention of it out of bulletins, papers and books for several years. But
its success was undoubted, for by nightfall on the 22nd April there was no formed body
of French troops east of the Canal, though many brave individuals and groups remained
and attached themselves to British units in the ensuing fighting. A huge gap, four miles
across, however, was formed in the Allied line. The Canadians threw back a flank, and
battalions from their reserve and from the 27th and 28th Divisions, under Major-General
Snow's direction—he was the only divisional general in the Salientwere hurried up to
fill it. Fortunately the Germans did not press on. Overcome, it is believed, by following
up in their own gas, they failed to take full advantage of their surprise.
Another gas attack cleared away the Canadian 3rd Infantry Brigade on the 24th
the 2nd, exhausted by continuous fighting, was relieved on the 25th, and the line filled
up by the 13th Infantry Brigade, the Lahore Division and the infantry brigades of the
4th and Northumbrian Divisions. A successful counter-attack of the Lahore Division
was driven back by gas-its first use in defence. Then came the turn. An extemporised
