THE SECRET OF THE FRENCH 75'S.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 181, 9 June 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE SECRET OF THE FRENCH 75' S.

THE HI'XS CANNOT DISCOVER IT

Now that the groat attacks have begun again in France the famous French gun. the "75,'' will be one of the chief weapons enabling the Allies to drive the Grmans back. It has often been asked, " Why, when the Germans capture a French 75, can they not learn it* secret?" Well, the real seertt in the famous gun is the buffer, or "recoil absorber,' attached to it. When the gun is fired, instead of jumping back, its position remains unchanged owing to the ingenious buffer that is used. The buffer really consists of a chamber containing compressed air and glycerine. But the Germ-ms cannot discover the secret, even if a gun does fall into their hands, since the opening of the buffer causes the compressed air to escape, and the whole secret lies in the exact proportions of air and glycerine, So steady is a "75" that a glass of water can be placed on : lie wheel and will not bo spilt when the gun is fired.

CUTTIXC

I was dining with n big lumhermon in Michigan and he was telling me of a veteran they had 011 the staff tor many years —a dry, good-natured fellow, with a caustic style of his own, which has left many people wondering whether he was "for" or "against' them.

A young ninn, with no money and not much muscle, hut keenly anxious to git work, applied at the lumber camp for a job, ,r d was told off to assist old .lake at one end of a crocs saw - one of tiio.-e heavy two-handed saws with which felled trees are cut through. The now (hum did his best. 1 >ut towards (bo end of the second dav his physical p.v.veis were beginning to wane

"Sonny.' said Jake, stopping the saw for a monent, and turning his quid, "f (hm't mind von bavin' a ride 011 this saw but if it's all the same to you I wish you'd keep your feet off the

"Ten fhou-and ve.ices call ng. saag n village so'iraiio, who then broke, dev.ll. at a !oii'i''t. Her second at tempt was oouallv futile, whereupon an auctioneer exclaimed : "Start at seven thousand, miss, and veif 11 be all right 1"