"HUMBUG GUNS."

Taihape Daily Times, 23 April 1919, Page 3

" HUMBUG GUNS."

FIREWORKS WHICH DROVE OFF

HUN R AIDERS

Of all the camouflage practices that have mystified the Germans during the war the greatest have perhaps been those carried out by means of fireworks.

Some of the strange uses made of fireworks were described by the manager of Messrs Brock ami '*>., -who liaro srpplied large quantities of -»ire wo?ks to the Army.

One of the greatest discovdfUs during Ihe war was that of "h.nnbug" guns. When ignited these traduced short, sharp flashes, in imitation of gun fire. Theye were used to deceive the enemy as to the position of gun. 3. When arir aids were at their worst these were placed at certain places around London and fired when ener.y aircraft were approaching. Tho airman, believing the flashes to 'ladieito the position of anti-aircraft guns, altered their course and selected another which showed no flashes. By choosing these courses the airmen rod dir-

eetly into the guns. These "humbug" fireworks also proved invaluable at the front. Hostile artillery, mistaking them for guns, set their range -.ceordingly, -\vith the result that they wasted quantities of ammunition on deserted ground -and B'ritish artillery v vas saved much molestation.