The Maxim Gun in Action.

Manawatu Herald, 28 April 1894, Page 3

The Maxim Gun in Action.

The late Captain C. F. Lendy, shortly before his deatd, wrote to Mr H. S. Maxim concerning the use of his gun in the Matabele campaign. Dated Buluwayo, January 6th, the letter is as follows : — " During the late Matabele Cam' paign I was artillery officer in charge of all the British South Africa Com* pany's guns, including seven Maxims. Next Mail I will send a more detailed report of the working of these machine guns in action. Various possible improvements for i carriage and tripod mounting suggested themselves to me both in this war and during my nearly four years' residence in this part of of Africa. I will merely state now that it is a ! universally admitted fact that to the Maxim guns is due in a very great measure the success hitherto of the British South Africa Company's forces. Every Matabele we spoke to had the same story, namely, they did not mind our rifle fire as they themselves had Martinis, but whafc beat them off and prevented them from closing in on our laager and crating us up was the zi go-go-go— the name they gave to the Maxim gun. If one bullet missed they were bound to be hit by the next if they stayed, and if they ran away the bullets would follow them up and kill them whan the gun itself was out of sight. They would fight us if we left our Maxims at home. The guns all worked admirably throughout, although very inferior ammunition was sometimes used. The unusual knocking about they often had to undergo fully tested their capabilities for use in a wild and savage country. I never once had a gun out of action."