TRENCH DAGGERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16234, 20 May 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

TRENCH DAGGERS.

NEW WEAPONS.

The war has revived old-fashioned weapons and has brought into existence roanv new ones.

At one stall alone at the Active Service Exhibition in London-r-that of the Junior Army and Navy Stores—are shown some twenty small but stern-looking implements, designed to meet the changed conditions of warfare. There are five kinds of trench daggers— little weapons for close fighting. They have loop-handles so that they may be gripped without any chance of slipping; the blades are about seven inches long. One of them has 3 handle made like a knuckle-duster, so that the owner can knock down one Hun with tho handle, and then, with a turn of the wrist, bring the dagger to bear on another. Officers are finding these instruments invaluable in trench-fightinc The contrivances for cutting ba°rbed wire are many and varied. One of them fastens on to the wire just as a parrot might grip it with its beak: the upper jaw closes over the lower, the handles are gripped firmly, and snap goes the wire. For use in daylight, when there is no need for silence, is an attachment which when fitted to a revolver, enables the bullet to travel with precise aim and cut the wire.

A head-shield which can be fitted into any cap is a guard against shrapnel It cannot be seen when worn and is quite light, A pathetjc reminder of the way the Huns wage, war are life-saving waist for children.