ESPIONAGE IN WAR OFFICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9740, 16 August 1917, Page 3

ESPIONAGE IN WAR OFFICE

A REMARKABLE STORY. In tho current number of “The Lone Hand” magazine, a remarkable story is told of an aoro-gun invented in Christchurch, which became the property of the enemy by methods typically Carman. The narrative comes from Messrs Izard and Long!man, writing on behalf of a client, Mr Hugh McGloin. In tho June, 1915, number of “The Lone Hand” appeared a paragraph headed “Special Zeppelin AeroCun,” describing the gun, as consisting of two guns firing in directly opposite directions, ono discharging the projectile, tho other waiter, clay, etc., thus neutralising the recoil and adapting the gun for firing' from any unstable gun platform, such as an aeroplane. 'The paragraph stated that this gnu was used by the Germans on Zeppelins- It now appears that Mr Hugh iMcdoin actually invented this gun many years ago, and, going to Loudon offered it for sale to tho British War Office for £20,000. The offer was 'declined. Mr McGloin improved the weapon,'and in March-, 19.16, again offered it to tho Ivor Office. The model remained at the War Office until November, 1915, and was then politely declined, being shipped back to New Zealand on November 26th. Now Mr McGloin naturally wants to know how the enemy became possessed of the gun which the War Office in its wisdom didn’t use. The conclusion, tho Christchurch “Star” points out, is Clear: Treachery somewhere in the War Office. The foe lias his agents everywhere, and these agents have ways and means of circumventing British officialdom. The galling fact is equally clear that officialdom somewhere lathed sufficient sense to recognise a useful invention when it saw it. But that was over the way of the British War Office until the grim lessons of\war compelled its reorganisation.