A COSTLY BLUNDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10682, 31 January 1913, Page 4

A COSTLY BLUNDER.

IpBSOLiSTE GTJNS OF THE D - BATTERY. ; SENT BACK TO ENGLAND. RIOUS ALLEGATIONS CURRENT ■ [Frosi Our Coiuiksfoxiiknt.] % WELLINGTON, January 30. Vtpresent one of the chief topics of lversation in military .circles in Welgton is the sudden discovery by tho fence authorities that the new mounn guns imported for tho D Battery )'• bbsolete. These guns have been stily shipped back- to the Yickers. £sim" Company, from whom they ee-purchased, by the Atlienic, which led' for London -the other day, and > jihen of the D Battery, after train- ; with them for the best part of a ijow face,<l Avith the prospect going into camp -without any guns call. ■ It has previously been stated it ■ there is iioav available a gun of proximately seven years later deVVi and. this weapon is now being imifted,.- but this explanation is con©s&d by,officers who have had a peep rind .tha scones to barely cover the Ph9 general opinion in -well-informed His' is that someone has perpetrated sdstlr blunder, and that the country i'lhave to pay through tho nose for j lt is stated that thejfeason for tho jty despatch of the-guns front New iland was that' thd manufacturers It offered to find a" purchaser for mi," provided they-were delivered in fcland by a certain date, but this tement is countered by a serious Ipttioii., which is current in certain frters. 'I happen to know," stated an offi:to sv newspaper representative yosday, "that the'TV Battery'could not realised "these gutis ; even had they. ihi>allowed Ao remain hero till after camp next month, for they j. nVammunition of the requisite fbre, ; and no means, of getting it. b' ammunition required for them is y made now." Another statement is current that > bungle'originated in the High Comilijdner's office, . and that a•< certain c-ial's position is affected in console.