TURKISH MACHINE-GUN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2752, 22 April 1916, Page 3

TURKISH MACHINE-GUN

ON VIEW IN CHRISTCHURCH.

By the request of the Brigadier-Gen-eral commanding the N.Z. Mounted Rifle Brigade, I am forwarding by the transport Tahiti one case containing a captured Turkish machine-gun, addressed to Colonel Chaffey. The irun was captured by the Canterbury Mounted Rifle Regiment, who have been given authority to retain

Thus ran a message received on Tuesday by the Canterbury Headquarters Defence Office-from Zeitoun. The gun also arrived (says a Christchurch exchange), and is at present housed in the armourers' shop at the King Edward Barracks, where it is the object of general interest and admiration.

Those persons Competent to express an opinion have no hesitation in. affirming tho superiority of the machine over the British, article. Made in Berlin, it is a striking example of German thoroughness. The first improvement in it over the .British gun noticeablo is the composition of its metal, which is of dnll steel of the most invisible colour, in striking contrast to the bright gun metal which so easily betrays the presence of a British machine. The gun ii several pounds lighter than the British, and can be easily lifted, thus explaining the pictures one sees of German soldiers with such guns strapped to their shoulders. When working there is an almost entire. absence of sound, and the number of expert improvements nnon tho British, tvoe aro niany and easily noticeable. Tho gun is in excellent condition, ami works despite the fact that it has been hit three times, twice apparently bv bullets and once by' shrapnel. With the machine is a case of cartridge clips.