LITTLE PICTURES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 235, 13 March 1915, Page 3

LITTLE PICTURES.

VIVID FLASHES OF WAR. .DEADLIER .THAN .DUMDUM. .Dr. J. .Hartnell Davis, late director of the British field hospital for , 1Igium, and'.Dr. IT. 11. Souttair, assi-.. -it surgeon in :the'.West London Uos;;1, .•contribute..to .the British Medical Journal an.article, in which they say: ".The destruction of tissue in bullet wounds is so great that each side has repeatedly .accused each other of using dumdum bullets. This is based on an .entirely .mistaken reading qf the 'evid'ence. Our opponents do not use sufii bullets, for the verv good reason ihat ithey have .discovered something far more deadly at long range. '"fheir pointed bullet is carefully .constructed so that its centre of mass is far back. On striking any tissue, .soft or hard, it turns over and passes through ' backward, .the uncovered 'base mushrooming as it advances. Th.» pom± of (the bullet is tu (these .circumstances unaltered. In .the course .of operations, we have repeatedly met with specimens demonstrating the correctness of this view. The minnt: wound of enti'M w, the great internal Jestvueuon, th«. position of the bullet and its mushroomed base admit of no other explanation* An article in the 'Lancet, by Colonel <5. H. Makins, RA.M.S., consulting Surgeon to the Kxpeditionar'y Force, gives some interesting information 011 this subject. Thee,main characteristics of the wound produced by the modern, pointed bullet, it is observed, depend on two factors—initial velocity of flight i ml instability of flight in the long axis of the projectile. Of these two factors the former 5e of comparatively small importance, except in the increased capacity of the bullet to produce extensive comminution of the bones when they are struck at a right angle. In the instability of flight and the tendency of the bullet to revolve round a transverse axis, however, the travelling bullet is endowed with a capacity of wounding the soft parts to a degree which no form of expanding or Eoft nosed bullet has exhibited before. This is further explained. "The illstability of flight of "the bullet in its long axis is so great that, unless impact with the body takes place by almost the exact tip, a rapid revolution of the bullet an its transverse axis occurs, so that the only slightly diminished fores is exerted by the whole lateral area, of till' bullet on the tissues in the distal portion of the canal and the aperture of exit. If the 'remaining velocity' is great this half-turn only is probably made: if less the revolution may be complete, or. even repeated; if the bullet is nearly spent, it is often retained in s reverse position." 111 other words, the bullets in the circumstances described, turn, as it were, heels over head, on entering the flesh, and in this way the sharacter of the wound is. as may be readily understood, enormously aggravated.'' SNAPSHOTS OF BATTLE. From February H to February 1?, heavy fighting continued upon our left. It was of a most confused nature, being at close quarters in a maze of trenches, and in the intricate and difficult country in the neighborhood of the Ypres conl mines and canal.

During the bombardment for montlis the whole surface of boggy clay soil h'.ls become pitted with shell craters and strewn with fallen trees. Heavy howitzers' shells sweep a wood as clean us if the trees were toppled over in a gale.

The Germans attacked in some strength on the morning of February M. Our counter-attacks were at first unsuccessful. The same night, we regained the wliole of our trench line except for eighty yards, lmt the entire line was restored on February 1.5. The German dead were lying thickly on our Fient. The enemy continued to exert considerable pressure on our front south of the canal. .An anti-aircraft gun in the centre of our line hit a Gorman aeroplane, which "barely succeeded in escaping. descending hurriedly in the German lines.

An isolated night attack three miles north of Givenchy on February 1(! failed before our infantry "lire. Heavy fighting was continued next day north and south of the canal. Two of our trenches north of the canal were blown 111 and stormed by the Germans. It vras a short-lived success, s.s our men gnllantlv returning the charge recovered the trenches, capturing several prisoners, while the trenches were heaped with Gorman deail. The losses on both sides was considerable. Judging by the.number of German dead lying within the area visible, the enemy's casualties were greater than ours.

The following 'incident illustrates the character of the lighting wherein a trench mar change'hands several times a 'day:—Two 'officers, after-an 'engagement. set out to ascertain if the troops occup'ied certain trenches. Then entered a communication trench, anil found a dug-out in which a, candle was burning. TV quantity of German equipment was scattered about, "belt the siHii'ers thought that, it was captured material. j"Vhoy pushed on until "they v.m fclial'lenged sharply in German. They encountered a heavy shower of* bullets, and turning, -they raced for e*it, -putwiers anfl pursued tloundcr'irvg In the mud. The j officers eseaped unhurt, 'thkitks to 'the (lafrviiess. ••for neverit'l minutes tliey were under tire from all tht surrounding trenchts, The success of such warfare depends upon initiative, •enterprise and dt-cis'ive 'action bv <'ltieers and men. Direct communication ViVb the fifing line is sometimes precarious anil impracticable. 1* tlie ,iay-tinie slvrfLs me liable to sever tlie telephone. —®)-e-Wit-'

j.\" A WAilW;l;!J''.S STOKKHum There is 110 nun; in lI.M. navf to day more deserving </f our good wishes than our unassuming friend the stotef, •Seldom sharing in any glory that ip going, seldom indeed thought of at all, I he in certain contingency's which, nil- j fortunately, have already materialiseu in this war, has hem fc,owned miserably. like Mime rat in its hole, while sticking staunchly to his po^.t. As far as hard grinding Inlk" is conperiled peace or war makes little real difference to the black hole of the great leviathan. .It is ptipctual shovel anil lire, tj'jiu. .and ,-toi.e; but what does very i;taU.'i'-tfcHy li.ffeithe stoker's comfort is the iatiUi'li his vessel may happen to bti in. Thus. ,11 the Ked Sea. where the thermonietei may register !lfi degrees in tht) shade on deck, a way down in the liow-' els of t!w great ship, at a dizzy depth from flu- upper decks, the temperature will easily .-each 120. It is a marvel to the landsman—aye, and to the decksimiu as well-that men can be got to "stick it" to lisc a nautical li.-rin—un-der such atmospheric conditions, for let the oilier air he ever so stiflling. the greedv furnaces will demand not an ounce less coal or attention.

it illicit naturally jje thought that sli)l;<')'s as 11 class mint sillier very physically. I'ossilil.v many year:* of such lalior ""ill ocinvpcl .a man to take hi-; 1.-avin" ticket at an ajjo Avliicli to stijl sco Jtim halo and i.'i'iirty. or i 1 \'fu. shorten life itself: but >1 is i ami jx-rtap* almost miae--niinii;i 1)!l■. I'ai't tiial tl:c slokers of our m»,v tin* an »'sj)f«inlly fine Ixxly oj

men, who take prominent part in any naval sports going, and compare moift favorably in avoirdupois as well r.s rti physical condition with the Jacks, ana even the JoeSi of the sllip. When a stoker of the mercantile shipping service finishes his shift, he Hings himself down for a well-eainpd rest in the first handy' place that 'presents itself, but in His Majesty's navy it is obligatory upon him that whenwatch;is- over, he must bath and change his clothing. Thus, when naval stokers adjourn to mess, instead of the black, oily squad,ene might exp.cct to see, .there sit down to - dinner a sleeky well-groomed body of fellows 1 as fresh as paint. It may not be generally known either that, though the stoker is rated a unit of the civil staff, lie must periodically undergo physical drill and cutlas and pistol exercise. It is quite within the province of possibility that even nowadays he may be suddenly called upon to assist his upstairs friends -Jack and Joe in some hotly contested duel of the sea.

It is possible to be a hero in a naval fight while hewing, hacking and shovelling the gritty coal, tar out of sight of the great gleaming guns, and out of smell even of the smoke of their discharges. Life or death! Top speed, and just a little more! With an insistent 'twang the signal comes to the engine-room from the captain's bridge. The sea behind, aye, and occasionally the sea just in front, spouts and froths as if a school of whales were disporting. A cruiser with a 15001b broadside at her command is straining every rivet in the hull to cut across the fairway of a smaller vessel, which dare not accept the Obvious challenge, for the poundage of her broadside barely touches four figures, and she is also outclassed in gun range. ' : ■

| Who are real heroes of this one-sided encounter? Not the gunners of the bigger warship, as they are virtually Immune frpm danger; not the pursued ship's gunners, for not a 'pud of smoke comes from their guns. Trip down the sinuous iron stairway to the hidden heart of the hidden vessel, and view a scene that will compel 'wonder, admiration and something akin to exultation inextricably mixed. Scores of men are there in the, fiery glow and scorching heat of the glorified stokeholds, their naked, sweat-running bodies twining and twisting in the throes of a feverish activity unrelieved by a moment's repose. It is upon the sinews, heart and very soul of these men that the fate of the ship and 'personnel depend. Each splitting crash overhead as the pursuing shell tears a great column of water into spray and spume might have been the herald of disaster and a terrible death. The fighting men above may he picked up alive even if a shell finds the magazine, but the stoker — ah, the stoker will have gone below with the shovel handle in his grasp' amid the grit and grime ef his erfiling. THE EAST SURREYS. Although necessarily unable to keep iii Close personal touch with all the eorps under his coirtmand, Sir j John French has a keen appreciation of the value of seeing as much as possible of his gallant troops. He never fails, when opportunity serves, to give them words of encouragement, to praise tbein for dwds done, and to exhort them to even greater efforts.

One of the most striking eulogies he has yet uttered wis that he passed upon the heroic Ist Battalion of the Fast Surreys. After inspecting the men last mouth, he addressed them as follows:

I am very glad of having the opportunity of addressing you to-day, anil thanking .you for the work you have done on the wav here.

I asked your corps commander, fiir Horace Smith-Dorrien, what special 'occasion I should mention in which you have distinguished yourselves.

"Whatever you mention and whatever you say to tlieni " he said, fit will not be too much. They have been splendid throughout." No regiment could wish for higher praise thiin this, and I thank you "personally for what you have done and the way you have helped me. The sth- Division have had -more than their share of the lighting in this campaign. -After Mons and l.c Cateau yon had the brunt of the fighting, and immediately 'after, at the battle of the Marne, you liad to attack the most difficult section of the line, and the attack was brilliantly carried'eut. N\>t a week later you were engaged 011 the .Aisne, and held the -easternly, difficult position of Missy, into which an incessant rifle and shell fire was poured from the commanding German 'position ;.above.

than a week later after this the regiment was in the thick «f terrible severe lighting round La Bassce, when you were farnl by three, if-u3t'by four times your number, and experienced some of tin: fiercest fighting of the War.

'Lately in the trench work and figliting yon have gallantly defended your lines against the most determined' attacks and the most vigorous shelling. In fact, voit have crowded into the four months eit the campaign enough lighting to fill the'battle honors of your corps. And by your conduct throughout you have not fully upheld, 1 but 'added, to tlie fame of v, grand old regiment.

In conclusion, us Connnamlci'-in-Chicf 1 wish once mote to thank you for your entiiirance. and the splendid, work you liavx -performed, and to till you how glad I am that I have kid the opportnni.y to beibg able to tell you ,90.