THE "SHOOTING-MACHINE."

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1916, Page 3

THE "SHOOTING-MACHINE."

CAPT. WALLINGFORD'S HEALTH. EXPECTS TO BE FIT IN A MONTH. iIACTIIXE-GUN' BOYS WERE SUPERHUMAN. (Auckland Star). It would be difficult to find the man who has made a greater mark on the enemy in the present war than Captain J. A. Wallingford, crack rille shot, revolver expert, and machine-gun director. Time and again he has been spoken of as the '•human machine-gun," and it is an. acknowledged fact that, his brigade was largely instrumental in holding the New Zealand lines. Before coining to New Zealand to act as musketry instructor, he was known as '•the shooting machine," and lie left behind him an amazing record as the champion shot of the British Army. From the Auckland district he accompanied the Nrw Zealand Expeditionary Force abroad, and when the machine-gun sections were brigaded he was given command. He played a conspicuous part in the memorable landing on April 25, and, by reason of his "distinguished and meritorious service" during the critical days which followed, he was awarded the Military Cross. At the end of August this brilliant soldier had to acknowledge need of a rest, and he was invalided to England with a strained heart.

ALMOST FIT FOR DUTY. Now, Captain Wallingford has returned to his home, in Auckland, and the sea voyage has so benefited him that ho expects to be ready for duty when he has had a rest of four weeks and a trip to Rotorua. After a happy family reunion the returned officer was induced by a pressman to speak of his experiences at the front. It may be of interest to mention that, although Captain Wallingford has been in the Regular Army for 31 years, this is the first war in which ho has seen active service. ''And I am thanful for every hour of the training I have had since I became a soldier. Every scrap of practice witli rifle, revolver, and machine-gun has all been useful." Speaking of the lessons of the war, Captain Wallingford said that too much stress could not he laid on the value of machine-guns. The riflemen were now coming into their own again. They must be crack shots. The order of utility was crack shots, machine-guns, bombers, diggers, and bayonets,

I NOTHING CAN BEAT THEM. I Referring to the members of his brigade, Captain Wallingford declared with enthusiasm that nothing could beat them. "They were my own boys whom I had trained in New Zealand,'' lie said, "and I could have had none better. 1 have come to the conclusion (hat our lads are good as compared with the British soldier. Both have the same blood and are equally brave, but we have an advantage in age. Whereas they accept boys down to the age of IS yean, we do not take them at less than 20. Accordingly ours can stand the rough work of campaigning better than the average lad of the ''K" army. We had four machineguns to each regiment, and I consider myself the luckiest man that ever took the field, not only because T had the best of New Zealand boys, but also because I had the best guns. We were better off than anyone in this respect. The losses were very heavy. During four days on Cluinuk Bair 1 lost 04 per cent, of my officers and men. No troops could have stood up better. In the early dawn of August 11, when the apex we had held was about to give way, the ma-chine-gun lads fixed bayonets, and, gathering round in a circle, said: 'We'll stick to you, captain.' They did, and the. position was held. I know of nothing liner than that." LIGHTER MACHINE GUNS.

Before leaving England on the Ruahine, Captain \Yallingford ascended in an Army aeroplane and fired the. machine gun which she carried. Questioned as to the sensation, he replied: "It ivas just like sitting down to dinner.'' What made the experience the more enjoyable was that the manoeuvres took place over his old training ground—Hythe—and lie fired on to the beach that lie knew so well. The 'plane carried a Lewis machine gun, a new weapon that had come out during the war. It was much lighter and more portable than those which the \ew Zealandcrs used. ''How our boys have toiled through day and night with our heavy maxims is simply superhuman." Captain Wallingford added that he had been through some of the big factories in England, and he was satisfied that they were now turning out adequate quantities of field equipment. He therefore thought that it would not be necessary to consider the question of manufacturing machine guns in isew Zealand. At the same time, he remarked that there were some highclass workshops in this Dominion. Of his future movements, Captain Wallingford is unable to speak, "I am a soldier," lie said, in reply to the obvious inquiry, ''and am ready to go where I am' sent. If 1 am to resume my wo'rk as an instructor in New Zealand well and good, but if, on the other hand, I am sent back to the front, 1 shall be pleased to go."

folk, to get out at all, and this was the best time of the year to have work done. The Engineer stated that he had just passed a voucher for fiSi hours' work done on the road, at a cost of £32 14s 3d, by eight settlers. lie had also instructed the foreman just before Christmas to take two men and put in a week on the saddle. Cr. -Piggott said he had been informed by two "settlers that the road was in good order.—Matter to be attended to. GENERAL. In connection with toll passes to Government officers, the Commissioner of Crown Lands notified that he bad issued one pass to the Crown Lands Ranger, and would issue others as required. The chief postmaster notified that passes had been issued to bis officers on October ?.fi and bad been in use since that date. Mr. J. J. Chapman, chairman of the Okau Dairy Company, asked that the bridge on" the Maungongaonga road, which was unsafe for traffic, be repaired as soon as possible. He pointed out that the firewood supply to the factory was carted over this road—Engineer to report at next meeting. It was resolved to adhere to the original agreement to pay £SO to the Waltoitoi Dairy. Company for opening a gravel pit, when 500 yards of suitable nravel were taken from the pit. " The question of metal supplies at Urcnni was left to the Engineer. The Engineer was authorised to expend all thirds available for North Matau road on burnt papa, and authority was given to Cr. Hicks to procure 100 yards of boulders at Tikorangi. ■Accounts amounting to £044 Ss 7d were £a.33ed (or payment