Messages by Bomb.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 1372869, 17 September 1917, Page 2

Messages by Bomb.

WHEN TELEPHONES ARE CUT. FRENCH HEADQUARTERS . July 22. Among recent developments in the science and materials of war both for attack and defence .flic following three examples are, perhaps the most interesting which have been devised by the enemy. The first has to do with the composition and use of asphyxiating gases and gas shells. In order to exploit. to the utmost this branch of offensive warfare, three special staffs have been formed of officers picked from the artillery in the field, who travel from one army corps to another, staying a week or ten days with each, partly to give instruction in the different ways of lighting with gas and partly to study the local conditions affecting its use. These officers receive a preliminary instruction for a month in the laboratories of the chemical section of the War Office, the staff of which is composed, besides artillery officers, of a large number of civilian chemists. The second innovation is the use of smoke-producing machines for hiding batteries the positions of which have been spotted by our airmen. To protect the guns and their crews from bombs and shells, sites are prepared beforehand round a battery not less than 270 yards from it and about 10 yards apart. When need arises the smoko machines are placed in sites to windward, so that the concealing cloud sweeps over the guns and hides them from the airmen. The third device is an ingenious method of establishing communications during tin engagement by means of message projectiles when telephone wires have been cut by a heavy bombardment. There are two forms of these message carriers; bombs for communication between the front and the battalion and regimental commanders, fired by grenade guns with a range of 550 or 050 yards,and light shells for extending communication back from the infantry and artillery commanders to brigade headquarters, which are fired from mortars with a range of KIOO yards.