Body Armour.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 48, 22 June 1917, Page 2

Body Armour.

It was stated during the Boer War that a sufficiently resistant plate over the heart and another over the abdomen would prevent nearly all fatal body wounds, says Edward B. Poulton in the "Times.” Such plates could be made so as to deflect even if they did not stop, a bullet at short range. In an address I drew attention to tome experiments on bullet-proof shields made by the late Hev. F. Jervoise Smith. P.R.S., and offered to explain the principle, which I believe to bo new, to the authorities. No inquiries were received. It is obvious that the machine-gun is the one great difficulty encountered by our men. It seem to be possible to equip men as special ma-chine-gun fighters, reducing the weight of their loads in every other direction, and expecting no other duties from them. Such men could not only attack On their Own account but-also signal the position of ma-chine-gun emplacements to light artillery of the most suitable kind. The pom-pom may be suggested as likely to be helpful. Or it may be that better results could he obtained by heavier artillery. Specially armoured light guns Could also accompany the machine-gun fighters ; and here there would be no difficulty in the use of sufficiently thick steel.