LOCALLY-MADE HAND GRENADES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2592, 14 October 1915, Page 9

LOCALLY-MADE HAND GRENADES

INTERESTING TEST

BOMBING AT FORT DORSET

An exhibition of tho effectiveness of New Zealand-made hand-grenades was given at Fort Dorset yesterday. The grenades are made by the Sabulite Company, and are a little bigger than a cricket ball. They weigh about four ounces, and are very easy to throw fairly accurately.

Yesterday's exhibition was given on a stretch of fiat ground near the fort, and it was witnessed by a small number of interested spectators, including several members of tho Savage Club, who stato that their institution is watching the experiments very keenly for certain reasons.

Two trenches had been dug a dozen yards apart, with a view to ha\in<; the test made under something resembling active service conditions. First of all, I'Anvever, ai box measuring nearly a cubic yard, and set in the ground, was used. A grenado was exploded in tho box, and the result was the reduction of the case to chips. Half-a-dozen dummy men (boards cut about tho sizo and sliapo of men) were stood up in one of the trenches, a couple of grenades were placed on the floor, the fuse was lit, and in a little while two loud reports announced that it was time to proceed to investigate the extent of the "casualties." Every one of the halfdozen dummies had been hit. Some were the equivalent of killed outright. The next item on tho bill was rather more exciting. Lieut.-Colonel Courtney agreed to throw soma grenades. Several civilian "experts" considered it quite simple to drop a stone about tile sizo of a grenade over from one trench to the other, but their efforts were a little sad. The difficulty arises through having to stand below the surface and lob t'bo missile into a cavity which cannot be seen, and can only be gauged. Nevertheless, (Lieut-.-iColonel Courtney was very successful. If is first shot found the enemy trench with perfect accuracy, and wrought great havoc. He consented to have another shot, and on the second occasion also lie scored with a clean Job into the opposite trench.

Tlie spectators viewed the test from a hillside close by, oxcept a few who were in the trench with the thrower.

INTERESTING NOTES

The following notes on the demonstration have been'received from a special contributor:—

"The- hand-grenades- used at yesterday's demonstration were small spherical shells weighing 2i'ib. These had been loaded with Sabulite, w]iicli consists of ammonium nitrate, calcium silicide, and trinitrotoluol. This explosive is a modern one, the world's patent rights having been taken out by a Belgian in 1913. Its high efficiency is widely known, and, as was announced the other day in tho Press, tho British Ministry of Munitions recently ordered 6000 tons of Sabulite for.war purposes. 11l New Zealand it is manufactured by Sabulite, N.Z., Ltd., a company directed by well-known Auckland business men and having extensive works at Waikumete.

"As Sabulite is a 'safety' explosive, one advantage claimed for tho grenades produced by this company is that they cannot bo exploded prematurely. To bring them into action a, fuso and detonator are required. When bursting, these Sabulite grenades break into fragments —some 140 or 150—of almost uniform size, and scattor themselves with a force sufficient .to pierce a man's body. "The first test at Fort-Dorset clearly proved tho wounding-power of these grenades. This was carried out by Mr. Leonard Hammond, jnaimger of Sabulite, N.Z., Ltd., who suspended a grenade inside a largo wooden box' which had been sunk in the ground. An eighteen-inch fuso was lit, and timed to explode in fifty seconds. The timing was very accurate, ind after a violent upheaval of timber and earth the box was discovered severely shattered and riddled with holes oaused by tho grenado pieces. The wood was five-eighths of an inch thick.

"The test that followed was also successful. Two grenades were exploded almost simultaneously in a trench occupied by twolvo wooden dummies. When the smoko cleared, the spectators found that every figure had been badly holed, some being 'wounded' in a dozen places. "The handling of these grenades is a simple matter; .nevertheless a littlo practice is necessary in order that one maj- learn the 'spurt of the fuse' —as it is termed—and to time its burning correctly. If a mistake is made in cutting or timing a fuse, tho grenade may be thrown back by the enemy with disastrous results. This has frequently occurred with inexperienced troops. "The projected training in bombiighting for our New Zealand forces is, therefore, a step in the direction. In order to encourage this move, it is reported that the Savage Club, whoso representatives witnessed yesterday's demonstration, are contemplating making a substantial donation of Sabulite grenades to our troops "