WATER-BUFFALO SIGN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 13 June 1942, Page 4

WATER-BUFFALO SIGN

! ADOPTED BY ARMOURED DIVISION SYMBOL OF UNSURPASSED FIGHTER Wellington, This Day. I There is a special significance in the | replica of a water-buffalo, reproduced ! on armoured vehicles of a Division of Ithe New Zealand Military Forces which has adopted this emblem for its mechanised vehicles. The water-bufl'alo is a:i • animal whose fighting qualities arc with | out peer in the realm of wild open [spaces where only the fittest survive I The water-buffalo is by general cou--1 sent of authorities the most dangerous jof Indian animals alter the tiger; it jis an animal which is never beaten while it has life in its body. It will ! trample and gore a tiger. It is one i animal which when hunted, become the hunter itself. When wounded, t j will hunt for its enemy by scent, as a I dog will hunt for a rabbit. It is a dev (incarnate on the offensive, according to world authorities on wild animals. Nothing will turn it from its purpose Jlf not killed instantaneously, it \#ll assuredly destroy its adversary, j There is no creature, so authorities siate, so determined to stamp out the j life of its opponents. The intensity of its purpose is unsurpassed. It will j crash through obstacles from which a I hunter cannot escape without the j greatest difficulty. ! There is on record in an internationj ally-known publication on wild animals an account of a big-game hunter who j went after a water-buffalo bull. The bull was wounded by a light rifle, instead of turning tail, he hunted his human pursuer hour after hour .each time to bo driven off by a shot from a light rifle till finally the animal was killed. The only safe way to hunt it is from an elephant. The water-buffalo whet: tamed in captivity is faithful to its (master, but still a dangerous adversary. The driver of a train of water-buff aio iwill enter unafraid the jungle haunts jof the wildest animals, knowing that the water-buffalo will i ckle anything that tries to restrict its progress.