NEW ZEALAND ARTILLERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1915, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND ARTILLERY.

, PINE WORK OP DOMINION GUNNERS. • Some of the invalided men who returned to New Zealand by the Tofua have much to say in praise of the New Zealand Artillery, which ha 9 played an important part in the Gallipoli campaign. Three batteries went from Egypt to the Dardanelles with the main body in April last, and probably it is literally accurate to say that they havebeen in action every day since the historic landing. 'Our howitzers are great, and are infinitely superior to the 'Turks' guns, though the enemy have a great variety of weapons," said one man. "The Turks had the advantage of knowing the country, and they have had the better positions from the first, but our gunners have done wonders. They have got their guns into apparently inaccessible positions, across apparently insuperable obstacles; they have fought coolly and persistently day in and day out, and they have landed their shells where they wore wanted and when they wero wanted." One invalidoil artilleryman mentioned that he had been injured in an unusual fashion. The Xew Zealandcrs' gun was just being fired, when a Turkish shell whistled close over head, and all the gunners instinctively ducked. The man in question managed to get too near the breech of his own gun, and when the weapon recoiled ho was struck violently on the shoulder. The bone was broken badly, and he had to go into hospital. The New Zealanders, like the British troops in Flanders and France, have conceived a groat respect for the French field guns, the famous 75's, and they mention that two of these guns had somehow got into the hands of the Turks, and gave the colonial troops a lot of trouble. The characteristic of the French gun is remarkable accuracy and very quick service, several sheila "being landed on one sgot in rapid succession. ■' iw r