TOMMY IS PROTECTED.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 156, 17 March 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

TOMMY IS PROTECTED.

Steel Helmets and Shields. HOW

IN THE TRENCHES.

lie adoption by the military author- ; of helmets and shields for soldiers

in the firing line is con-jdered a step in tlio right direct'on. To the French is due the credit of reverting to the days of the breast-plate, the visor, and the shield in tin ir attempt to solve the problem of reducing the enormous number of shrapnel and bullet wounds. Present-day warfare has been respon.-:-ble for many changes in the mode of lighting, and while it was obvious that the armour a.s worn m the fifteenui century would be out of the question to-day, a modification of the unwieldy suit of mail has been found of estimable service and practical value.

FRANCE LED THE WAY. Since the beginning of the war the use of armour for protecting the most vital parts of tlu? soldier has been increas'ng in France, now that the conditions of warfare do not ca'l for long inarches or dashes of more than a limited distance over the open. Recently a French deputy, n.ember of one of the Commissions of the Chamber which receives special information from the War Minister, stated that since the adoption for troops in the first line trenches of the small, closefitting chrome steel helmet, the casualties due to wounds in the head bad been reduced by 75 per cent. Even bullets striking with direct impact were sometimes turned by tile helmet.

In addition to these helmets, many soldiers are supplied with large bulletproof breastplates, which they use for their dashes from trench io trench. Plates of specially toughened steel are sometimes sewn into tunics over the heart.

In the House of Commons recently, in answer to n question, the Under Secretary for War stated that (steel sh'.elds to protect the vital parts of the body had been designed and tested, but the difficulty had been to devise a shield which was not too heavy for the soldier to carry, and yet possessed of sufficient strength to resist penetration. Trials and experiments with various patterns were being carried out. The patterns which were advertised were not up

the standard which would be of rr practical value.

TAKING EXPERT ADVICE

The inquirer then asked whether '!.e authorities had yet decide! 011 1 steel helmet for the protection of the sold'crs go : ng into action; whether ail soldicis going into action would i>e provided with these : whether tiie French or Gorman pattern had been followed; and whether surgeons had been consulted as to the best shape to protect the skull from fracture, and scientiffic authorities as to the form of helmet most likely to receive buHets at an angle

■ ■ '■ ITnirtt^^^Sos^KiHs^fflf^^^^W!^ li t' now c.'.[>, as I have toen tliciii (In. over a Balaclava woollen helmet, covering ears and head, they look like j Crusaders. But the psychological im- j porta nee of the steel helmet in increasing the sens.o of security of the wearer is ho undeniably important that it is +o ho hoped that no time will lie 10-t in serving out those caps to every .ann in the trenches.''

A TALK OF CHAIN* ARMOUR. A well-known war correspondent rnncluv for tho trutli ot tho following story apropos of bullet-proof armour. Whilst in Pars at tlu< beginning of tho war, a French inventor persuaded him to olitain all opportunity for (Iciiinn»t rating 1 in- usefulness of a tliin chain armour shirt. which lie claimed ■ ould resist any hul'et or bayonet. A sample shirt had been hung up and fired at with Fatisfaetory results, hut it was with a certain jourmil'stic scepticism that lie attended the offic'al deninnstra • tinn at ll.ndon later. At anyrate to

oblige the inventor lie. donned one of rhe siiirts to show its comfort and fie.; ibility. It was then that the Frenchman achieved a dramatic effect, fo,he whipped out a Webley autoniati: and blazed away straight at the wearer's chest, without, however, injuring him. Before the latter had recovered enough breath even to swear, a War official grasped him warmly by the hand. "Sir," he said, "you are a brave man!'' Tho "brave man' disappeared with becoming modesty. Ho had gone to get a stiff brandy and fcodn. TO PROTECT THE HEART.

Although not officiary advised to do so, many of our soldiers make good use of the handy little bullet-proof mirror, which was placed on the market nfte: the outbreak of war, in a dual capacity Manufactured of thin ste.el, highly polished, this article, when not in use for shaving purposes, can be worn in the left-hand breast pocket, and makes an ideal protection for the heart. The Germans, on their side, have vented a sjH'cial k:nd of cigar case io protect the heart, which has be-eii lound on dead soldiers killed by wounds in other parts of the body. It is made of two plates of specially toughened carbonised steel, manufactured by an expensive process, and stops bullets at poinr-blank range. The cigar case is r-ngr.'ived witn the words "Always carry in the left-hand breast pccket."

The writer has seen evider.ee of the protective qualities of an ordinary gunmetal cigarette case. The owner—a member of the sth Royal Scots —had the misfortune to be shot through the :r m in an engagement at the Dardanelles. He was picked up and Uikcn to the hospital. When his effects came to be examined, the cigarette ea>.\ which had been carried in his breast pocket, was an immediate object of interest. It seemed that the bullet, after passing through the young man's aim, had penetrated the cigarette case, frizzled up to an "end"' tho only cigarette it contained, and then made its ex't through one of trie top corners, without doing him any harm. Had thai cigarette case not been there, probably the young man would not have lived to see the result of the bullet's extr lordinary journey. Needless to add. h;s most priceless possession is that battered receptacle for "Woodbines."

POOR BUT BULLET-PROOF. Various attempts liavc been made tn produce a garment of suitable toxturo to resist the penetrative powers of the bullet . Ac-cording to a Paris journal! such an article was a bubot-proof cuirass invented by Elias B-.-we, a Frankfort tailor, who wan f »>• a time one of the best known men on the Continent. He Had faith in Ins invention, which was composed of steel caslg with a packing in-ide. i'.otvctod y his cuirass, Howe submitted himself s a target for the lire of a squadron f soldiers and came out of the trial nscathed. For some reason his inention w;w not received witn favour y the German War Department Dis. ppointed, he retired to Italy, where e died in poverty, his invention never aving achieved for him tlie jiici.oss 't lerhaps merited. HELMETS FOR SAPPEKS. It is interesting to note tliat in tie 1 irmouries at the Palace at tli.e iun Wharf at Portsmouth, rn 1 also mi he Tower of London, there are in >'xstence massive wrought-ir.m head li.eccs which u-ed to bo shown ! v the irmourers and attendants as "Gimr.' iehne's," and were looked i:| on by he visitors witli considerable aw \ St >o?mond O'Callaghan says tin; '.vV>n e took charge of the Gun Wharf, these nd other objects of the rclleetion izzled him. and Lord Dillon.the Cur:or of the Tower, very kindly came nvn to Portsmouth to help him in irrecting the catalogue. Ac-r.rding to s Lordship, these so-ca'led Giants' elmets were a service rtorj until jout tlie ond of I*ls, and were served it to the sappers to protect their fads, which were exposed above the ip of the sap-roller when pushing it efore them in the trenches. The sap-roilcr was a large cylinder, tade of wattle and tilled with earth, hicli afforded protection to ttie men igging the trench or communication, nd was pushed by two or more sapors, who were furnished with crowars or hand-pikes. As they ' prised'' he roller forward, their heads, with he upward lift of the crowbar, rose !h>vo its surfac. . hence the luc.cssity or jll • i:<• ■ti■>: 1. <• i: 'lrru'ts weighed lib. ut .in ' and '■lleftiial'v Ltopp '■! or turn. ,tsi<l.- tho bullet of [t 1" 11 ' lb. .VS. Til(■>!■. Wli WILL PR( I'll'.

N"i.t in li by the old iiiii.u as !>y the raw yung ■ Idier, fresh trom Ins training at homo, will t!u> protective helmets lie found most serviceable. Tito old campaigner, up to every device ni the sniper, knows too much to expose even the top of his hat to the watchful eyes of the enemy. F;ie young soldier is apt to he careless and foolhardy, and many a gallant laddie ha* paid the penalty for a moment of indiscretion. And the tall man, vho finds i! a hit of a nuisance to he •oi.tmuall.v ducking and walking I ke a n an with lumbago. has a decide! grievance aga'n-t those who are on the lookout for a target l'.ke him. The-,e nre the men who will benefit by the u.,e of the head-piece. May it he th.' ;i cans of saving the lives of many whose kith and kin at homo are earnestly praying for their snfetv in t!i.e 1 renehes. - A. C. II