SABULITE HAND-GRENADES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2588, 9 October 1915, Page 10

SABULITE HAND-GRENADES

THE 'ART OF BOMB-THROWING. We learn that the Government have accepted the Colonial Ammunition Company's gift of 500 hand grenades loaded nvitli the high explosive "Sabulite," and that the grenades leave Auckland for Wellington by the Mo'nowai to-day, It is understood that tho Colonial 'Ammunition Company is too busy to undertake the' manufacture of further grenades. If, however, the Government require more for tho training of bombtlirowers at Trentham, and for use when tlieso trained forces reach Gallipoli, tho Colonial Ammunition Company have said that it is prepared to give experience and every assistance to tho Sabulite Company ,in the manufacture of hand grenades. Tho training of the troops in bombthrowing at Gallipoli has been carried out- as far as it can be under the conditions ruling there,_ but it is impossible to prevent casualties with untrained men, who, Until they realise the great power of the hand grenade, which looks so insignificant, treat it with contempt. If the men were trained before leaving New Zealand they would bo able to throw the bombs accurately and judge the distance with precision, so that a bomb would seldom, if ever, be ineffective. They would also develop great muscle and skill in throwing the bombs long distances if required. In the early stages of the war reports came to hand which showed that there was a great want of hand grenades at the front. Our soldiers have been obliged to make bombs out of jam and soup tins, but without the strong metal wall of the proved military hand grenade —which wall is segmented internally to make it break up into cubes of mankilling size. _ The high explosive contained in thin tin walls is to a great extent oilly a noisy and frightening, and not a destructive, agent.

A demonstrative tost of these Sabulite hand grenades lefore the military authorities and tho public would prove highly interesting to most people nere. It is hoped that such can be arranged.