by Theo Emery
That the introduction of chemicals: “How Trained Scientists Are Meeting Modern Destructive Agencies—Gas Warfare and Aviation Hold First Place,” Maui News, June 28, 1918, 2.
“This laboratory is now”: “American Gas Organization,” Topeka State Journal, July 18, 1918, 4.
“We are of the opinion”: “Mining Engineers Plan War Work,” Bisbee (AZ) Daily Review, Mining Section, July 07, 1918, 2.
Another speech noted: 607 Fourteenth Street NW (Washington Herald ad, Feb. 12, 1918, 14).
The university president: The Town Crier, Washington Herald, June 24, 1918, 10.
the keynote speaker: “Judge Hitt to Address Alumni,” Washington Post, June 24, 1918, 5.
“The military lid”: Text of W. Lee Lewis speech, courtesy of L. Philip Reiss.
Two days later: “Chemical Warfare Service: Its History and Personnel,” Chemical Engineer, 16, no. 10 (Sept. 1918): 380.
The stroke of the president’s pen: “Army Takes Over All War Gas Work,” New York Times, June 29, 1918, 7.
Before he left: Grimes report for Apr. 9, 1918, Dr. Walter Scheele: German Matter.
He arranged: Agent Francis X. O’Donnell report for May 24, 1918, Protection at Jones Point, NY, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
Governor Charles Whitman: Letter from Richmond Levering to Bruce Bielaski, Apr. 12, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
Five days after: Grimes report for Apr. 12, 1918.
Scheele began work: Francis X. O’Donnell report for Apr. 30, 1918.
They also experimented: Report from Bruce Silver to Richmond Levering, Report of Progress in the Jones Point Experimental Laboratory for the Period May 28–31, 1918, May 31, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
and when they created: Report from Bruce Silver to Richmond Levering, Report of Progress in the Jones Point Experimental Laboratory for the Period June 4–14, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
From the earliest moments: Hart, Great War, 35.
Scheele claimed that the violence: Richmond Levering report to A. Bruce Bielaski, Uses of Liquid Air, Second Section report of Dr. Walter T. Scheele, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
Scheele also claimed: Ibid., 3.
The other top priority: Report from Captain Paul H. M. P. Brinton to Richmond Levering, Report of Progress in Experimental Laboratory at American Potash Corporation Plant, Jones Point, NY, Apr. 25, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
It didn’t take long: Report from Silver to Levering, Report of Progress in the Jones Experimental Laboratory for the Period May 28–31, 1918.
Such a fire: Letter from Richmond Levering to Lieutenant Commander Theodore Wilkinson, Apr. 30, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, RG 65, NARA M1085, OGF, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
Bielaski wrote back: Letter from Bruce Bielaski to Richmond Levering, May 5, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, RG 65, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
The manufacturing research: Report from Silver to Levering, Report of Progress in the Jones Point Experimental Laboratory for the Period May 28–31, 1918, 2.
The chemists tried turning it: Report from Captain Paul H. M. P. Brinton to Richmond Levering, Report of Results Obtained in the Experimental Laboratory at American Potash Corporation’s Plant, at Jones Point, NY, April 23, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, RG 65, NARA M1085, OGF, case no. 8000–925, roll 279, NACP.
The scientists also tested helline: Report from Brinton to Levering, Report of Progress in Experimental Laboratory at American Potash Corporation Plant, Jones Point, NY.
In one experiment: Memorandum from H. H. Armstrong to Lieutenant Commander Wilkinson, Demonstrating Tests, May 22, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
Iona provided its own share: “Six Men Killed in Arsenal Explosion,” New York Times, Nov. 5, 1903, 1.
The chemists had high hopes: Report from Captain Paul H. M. P. Brinton to Richmond Levering, Report of Progress, May 7, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
so Scheele’s compound: Letter from Richmond Levering to Lieutenant Commander Wilkinson, May 13, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
Though less powerful: Report from Captain Paul H. M. P. Brinton to Richmond Levering, Report of Progress, May 24–28, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
The ongoing involvement: Letter from Edison assistant W. H. Meadowcraft to Bruce Silver, June 10, 1918, Naval Consulting Board and Related Wartime Research Papers, Correspondence, Feb. 1918, Edison Papers, reel 280, frames 432–33.
Silver apologized for his absence: Ibid., frame 438.
Levering, too, wrote to Edison: Ibid., frames 441–42.
Levering began sending the reports: Letter from Richmond Levering to Thomas A. Edison, July 16, 1918, Edison Papers, frame 831.
Marie Scheele was living alone: Francis X. O’Donnell report for June 5, 1918.
At the end of May: Letter from Charles A. DeWoody to A. Bruce Bielaski, May 31, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
Though the details were scant: Letter from Charles DeWoody to A. Bruce Bielaski, June 6, 1918, BOI report from Agent Leonard M. Stern, In re: Richmond Levering—Investigation, May 20, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-97452, roll 473, NACP.
DeWoody asked the chief: Letter from DeWoody to A. Bruce Bielaski, May 31, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
Since the previous year: “Montauk Quick Facts,” Montauk Library, http://www .montauklibrary.org/other_pages&key=QUICK-FACTS.
On Saturday, June 1: Report from Richmond Levering to Lieutenant Commander Wilkinson, June 3, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
He also proposed: Ibid., 2.
The following day: Letter from Richmond Levering to William Offley, Apr. 30, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-97452, roll 473, NACP.
Levering erupted in furious indignation: Letter from Richmond Levering to A. Bruce Bielaski, “Attention of WMO,” June 4, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-97452, roll 473, NACP.
Colonel Ragsdale, the chief: Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Ragsdale to A. Bruce Bielaski, June 6, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-97452, roll 473, NACP.
DeWoody doubled down: Letter from Charles DeWoody to A. Bruce Bielaski, June 6, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-97452, roll 473, NACP.
Edison’s chemist Bruce Silver: Report from Silver to Levering, Report of Progress in the Jones Point Experimental Laboratory for the period June 1–4, 1918.
“This essential was reported”: Letter from Richmond Levering to Lieutenant Colonel E. J. W. Ragsdale, Incendiary Material, June 3, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-925, roll 279, NACP.
Whatever the reason: Anne Cipriano Venzon, The United States in the Fi
rst World War (New York: Routledge, 2003), 752.
The commander of the detachment: Letter from E. A. Anderson to Richmond Levering, July 3, 1918, Investigative Case Files of the BOI, 1908–1922, NARA M1085, OGF, 1909–21, case no. 8000-97452, roll 473, NACP.
A ceremony raised: “Flags Raised Breezingly at Union Station,” Washington Herald, July 5, 1918, 2.
children paraded in Petworth: “Children Up Betimes to Start Full Day,” Evening Star, July 4, 1918, 2.
President Wilson delivered: “President Wilson’s Speech at Tomb of Washington,” Washington Herald, July 5, 1918, 1.
Afterward, he boarded: “The Greatest of Fourths,” Washington Post, July 5, 1918, 2.
Sibert’s office: G. Wm. Baist, Baist’s Map of the Vicinity of Washington D.C. (Philadelphia: G. Wm. Baist, 1918), http://www.loc.gov/resource/g3850.la002292.
One of his first tasks: Memorandum from Adjutant General of the Army to All Departments, Designation of Name for Camp, Order of the Secretary of War, May 28, 1918, OCE, RG 77, finding aid NM-78, entry 104, box 98, NACP.
On July 2: Memorandum from Major General William Sibert to Colonel George Burrell, Building Program American University, July 2, 1918, USACE.
That same day: Memorandum from Frederic V. Abbot to Chief of Engineers and General Sibert, July 2, 1918, OCE, RG 77, finding aid NM-78, entry 104, box 98, NACP.
Within days, Burrell had furnished: Memorandum from George A. Burrell to William L. Sibert, Building Program of American University, July 5, 1918, USACE.
sent Sibert his own plan: Memorandum from George A. Burrell to William L. Sibert, Agreement with Brigadier General F. V. Abbot, July 6, 1918, USACE.
The one unresolved issue: Letter from Frederic V. Abbot to William L. Sibert, July 2, 1918, OCE, RG 77, finding aid NM-78, entry 104, box 98, NACP.
Edgewood Arsenal had started production: McPherson, “Historical Sketch,” 17.
Ten days later: Ibid., 46.
By the end of June: Memorandum from William L. Sibert to Chief of Staff, Feb. 5, 1919, Central Correspondence, 1918–40, CWS, RG 175, finding aid PI-8, entry 1, box 459, NACP.
The Ordnance Department: Journal of Industrial and Chemical Engineering 2, no. 4 (Apr. 19, 1919): 381.
Not long after Sibert: Memorandum from William Sibert to Chief of Staff, Feb. 5, 1919.
On July 7: “Mustard Gas Warfare,” New York Times Magazine Section, July 7, 1918, 1.
Deep in the report: Wilder Bancroft, “Summary of July 1 Report,” Pharmacological Research, War Gas Investigations, July 1, 1918, 6, BOM, RG 70, finding aid A-1, entry 47, box 119, NACP.
One test found: A. C. Walker, Report 13, Report on Penetration of Fabric by Mustard 1 (Lewisite), June 28, 1918, USACE .
When the chemists: L. T. Satler and Clarence J. West, Arsenic Derivatives, Miscellaneous Organic Analysis, Apr., 1919, USACE.
The work at Catholic: General Electric, National in the World War, 214.
Though lewisite was still: Preliminary Report on Lewisite, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Bureau of Mines Laboratory, Frank P. Underhill Papers, numbered folder 80–106, group no. 514, box 6, Yale University Library Manuscript Collections.
“It is directed”: Memorandum from Office of Director, CWS, to George A. Burrell, Conference Report of July 3, July 12, 1918, Central Correspondence, 1918–1942, CWS, RG 175, finding aid PI-8, entry 1, box 166, NACP.
Dorsey wouldn’t be alone: James Bryant Conant commission, July 13, 1918, call no. UAI 15.898, box 142, Papers of James Bryant Conant, 1862–1987, Harvard University Archives.
had his own orders: Memorandum from Frank Dorsey to James Bryant Conant on lack of quarters for officers in Willoughby, box 141, Papers of James Bryant Conant.
The attorney brought Dorsey: “Auto Show Breaks Record for Sales,” New York Times, Jan. 13, 1917, 15.
but only about one hundred: The Hub, May 1917, 30.
the factory had been abandoned: Willoughby Historical Society.
Chapter Twelve: First Gas and Flame
During the pause: Memorandum from Colonel Earl Atkisson to Commander- in-Chief, attn Asst Chief of Staff, Location of Units of 30th Engineers, AEF General Headquarters, G-3 Reports, Secret Correspondence, Records of the AEF (World War I), RG 120, finding aid NM-91, entry 269, box 3141, NACP.
The night after Jabine: Higginbottom diary entry, July 5, 1918.
Jabine also became friends: Letter from Thomas Jabine to Louis Jabine, July 15, 1918.
“He is one of our best”: Ibid., July 9, 1918.
“I never knew”: Letter from Jabine to mother, July 9, 1918.
But he needed to learn: Ibid., July 11, 1918.
A bombardment hit: Higginbottom diary entry, July 15, 1918.
A shell hit: Ibid., July 16, 1918.
Plans were drawn up: Addison, Story of the First Gas Regiment, 57.
Addison moved forward: Addison diary entry, July 21, 1918.
The colonel felt cheerful: Letter from Amos Fries to Bessie Fries, July 20,1918, Amos A. Fries Papers, 1896–1953.
And now a third battalion: History of the First Gas Regiment, part 1, section 3.
The counteroffensive had forced: Letter from Amos Fries to Bessie Fries, Aug. 6, 1918, Amos A. Fries Papers, 1896–1953.
“Confidence is increasing”: Ibid., July 10, 1918.
The gas service had been: Record of Operations at the Front, 4, G-3 Reports, General Correspondence, Records of the AEF (World War I), RG 120, finding aid NM-91, entry 268, box 3173, NACP.
Despite his growing optimism: Letter from Amos Fries to Bessie Fries, July 11, 1918, Amos A. Fries Papers, 1896–1953.
“They have a chance”: Ibid., July 20, 1918.
While Fries fretted: Ibid., Aug. 14, 1918, Amos A. Fries Papers, 1896–1953.
Practically a teetotaler: Ibid., July 11, 1918, Amos A. Fries Papers, 1896–1953.
Though still smaller: History of the Chemical Warfare Service, AEF, Technical Division, part 3, Hanlon Field, appendix 1, 3.
There were three firing ranges: Ibid., 4.
When the Gas Defense School: Letter from Amos Fries to Bessie Fries, July 15, 1918, Amos A. Fries Papers, 1896–1953.
Many casualties: Projector Attack, 26th Division, May 10, 1918, operational reports, 7–32, Thirtieth Engineers/First Gas Regiment, First Gas Regiment Collection, CCM.
In a different episode: Memorandum from Fries, May 25, 1918, AEF, General Headquarters, General Correspondence, Records of the AEF (World War I), RG 120, finding aid NM-91, entry 268, box 3141, NACP.
“Americans yet have”: Letter from Amos Fries to Bessie Fries, May 9, 1918, Amos A. Fries Papers, 1896–1953.
When men at the front: Memorandum from Fries, May 25, 1918, Records of the AEF (World War I), RG 120, AEF, General Headquarters, General Correspondence, finding aid NM-91, entry 268, box 3141, NACP.
Hundreds of casualties: Gas Casualties in AEF, Compiled from Gas Officer’s Reports, War Department, CWS, Edgewood Arsenal, 1917–1943, General Fries’ Files, 1918–1920, A–C, CWS, RG 175, finding aid PI-8, entry 7, box 15.
And then the numbers skyrocketed: Memorandum to accompany letter of Aug. 18 to the C-in-C, relative additional gas regiments for the AEF, Aug. 18, 1918, General Headquarters, G-3 Reports, General Correspondence, folders 948–65, Records of the AEF (World War I), RG 120, finding aid NM-91, entry 268, box 3141, NACP.
Unveiled on July 23: History of the Chemical Warfare Service, AEF, Medical Director, 6.
After the spring’s first incidents: Ibid., 4.
In one instance: Ibid., 17.
In July, the French ran out: Memorandum from Captain H. Sharkey to Major Wagnor, Cancelling Arrangements for Guards, July 27, 1918, Central Correspondence, 1918–1940, CWS, RG 175, finding aid PI-8, entry 1, box 543, NACP.
Fries was at the experimental field: “Stettenius in France,” New York Times, July 24, 1918, 13.
After he left: Letter from Amos Fries to Bessie Fries, Aug. 11, 1918, Amos A. Fries Papers, 1896–1953.
One day, Jabine worked: Letter from Jabine to mother, July 24, 1918.
After breakfast, Higgie set out: Higginbottom diary entry, July 29, 1918.
Higgie had an easy day: Ibid., July 30, 1918.
There were four casualties: Addison diary entry, 62–66.
Later that day: History of the First Gas Regiment, part 3, section 3, “Report of Operations by (30th Engineers) First Gas Regiment on Château-Thierry Front,” June 30 to Sept. 12, 1918.
Hanlon’s funeral was at Chaumont: Funeral of Second Lieutenant Joseph T. Hanlon, Special Order 229, Aug. 1, 1918, World War I Organization Records, CWS, First Chemical Regiment, Orders, Records of the AEF (World War I), RG 120, finding aid NM-91, entry 248, box 85, NACP.
Addison didn’t know: Addison diary entry, Aug. 3, 1918.
By the end of August: Order of the Chief of Gas Service, Aug. 30, 1918, World War I Organization Records, CWS, 1st Chemical Regiment, Orders and Memos, Records of the AEF (World War I), RG 120, finding aid NM-91, entry 1249, box 81, NACP.
The notoriously unreliable trolleys: “Heard and Seen,” letter to the editor, Washington Times, July 14, 1918, 22.
“I liked the idea”: Letter from Charles William Maurer to Miss Burr Powell, Baylor University, Mar. 2, 1919, Olson Family Collection.
“From and after the day”: Charles William Maurer induction letter, Olson Family Collection.
Though the army: Letter from Maurer to Powell, Mar. 2, 1919.
Many of his Baylor classmates: Ibid.
Patriotic bunting hung from storefronts: Harrison Rhodes, “War-Time Washington,” Harper’s Magazine, Mar. 1918
Every patch of dirt: Justin R. Cook, “Summer Vacation War Work,” St. Nicholas, July 1918, 789.
Construction of an explosives laboratory: Weekly Construction Progress Report, BOM, RG 70, NACP.
On shack number 5: Memorandum from H. C. Hutchins to Major Burt, Bureau of Mines Experiment Station and Camp Leach, Washington, DC, July 12, 1918, USACE, Spring Valley–Baltimore District, Project C03DC0918.
George Burrell had plans: Memorandum from George A. Burrell to William L. Sibert, July 5, Building Program of American University, 1918, USACE.
There was still no room: Biographical sketch of Maurer, Olson Family Collection.