ALLIES’ SURPRISE WEAPONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1610, 14 September 1916, Page 4

ALLIES’ SURPRISE WEAPONS.

A telegram from Berlin to New York recorded the impressions of the Anglo-French offensive formed by Lieutenant Dambilseli, a German olileer. Speaking of the allies’ methods, Lieutenant Dambitsch says:—“At the beginning of the artillery preparation the enemy showed ns a new thing in the destruction of observation balloons. Aviators swooped down on them and shot tire-balls on them from above, a lairs| of llame marking (he end of each balloon hit. The bombardment brought another surprise in the shape of aerial mini's of uiilieard-of calibre and thrown in incredible numbers. By the explosion of the Hist of these air torpedoes a massive pillar <d black earth was thrown up, perhaps a hundred yards, into the air, and the whole neighbourhood was showered with turfs, bricks, and earth. The destructive eHeels of this uninterrupted throwing of the heaviest mines were soon visible. The . entrances el iWo bomb-proof shelters wen* buried within a few minutes, and I lie inmates had to lie dag out. Report alter report arriveil of ‘bombproo) shelters demolished bv these aerial torpedoes, tin* inmates being buried in the ruins. The bombardment continued without a break, aerial torpedoes being hurled al ranges such as have never before been beard of for mine-throwers, while (he I'reneh artillery wais pounding every yard of flu/grouud with an intense (ire of big shells."