MACHINE GUNS AND MEMORIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1928, Page 2

MACHINE GUNS AND MEMORIES.

(Auckland “Star.”)

The Australian War Alemorial A 1 list'll in is an unsightly building near Sydney railway station, but in completeness and excellence the arrangement tin l collection would not be easily beaten. The Australian Uovernuient had prepared for a collection of this kind. They bad artists at the front, honorary officers, * painting, scenes of historic interest, i bey collected a gallery of portraits of their military and naval leaders without waiting for anyone else to do it ahead of them, and they began the systematic accumulation of odds and ends, relics, weapons, aircraft . As • the collection stands it conveys a complete picture of the war time activities of the Australian soldier. There is not merely an effigy of the man himself, as there are effigies of Ins friends and (foes, but we see bis clothing, instruments, trophies Ho; bombing raids in the line and athletic and drill exercises out of it), medals, camps, spheres of operations and letters. It gives a vivid picture of the life at the front, “Picture” is tinword, for a large number of model sets reproduce to the eye the front line trenches, advanced dressing stations, camps and battles. Many maps aid in the following of Australian operations in all theatres of war.

Not only is the German army represented by its soldiers, airplanes and guns, but tho civilian side of the war iis brought to the mind by a collection of the substitutes made necessary by the British blockade. Paper clothing. paper bandages and paper buckets, woodeu-soled shoes, woollen lope and wood pulp used to adulterate Hour, substitute tea, coffee and tobacco, toll the story of the civilian part in the war. German frugality is seen in a collection of cooper from the driving hands of British shells, carefully prepared to be' sont back to tbc Eatlioijancl. and German ingenuity in switchboard made from cartridges.

Hero, too. is the explanation of tho “corpse factory” stop- circulated by some Australian troops during the latter stages of the war. First- a signpost directing “Nacli dor kadaver verwertung.” which began the rumours. “Kadaver” was loosely translated as “body.” in which sense it is used bv doctors and poets, but not the German nation. The translation should have boon “carcase’’ factory, for the Germans wore making use of the many horses which wore killed in action. Then some relics from the “factory” which was found when the

Australians captured the Bell icon n luiinel. liivciaiAgalion showed tiiai the “factory” was a kitchen oil' tli tunnel and that a shell fell through tlie air vent in the roof, killing a mini her of men and throwing s.>.m- ul illremains into a copper where tho meals were prepared. “Deports had previously been circulated that German endeavoured to secure by-products from their dead,” says the official note “and some 100-credulous Australian,fancied that they bad at last discovered one of these corpse laetories.’ ('lose by is the mass ol leather thongs which gave rise to the story that Ihe German troops were Hugged into a -

tion. It is a duster, nothing more. The naval section is absorbing. I''! 1 of mementos of the Australia. thSydney, the Emilen. that remark.d.-h ship, the Sea Adler, and such b'fated craft as the Gnoounu ■' nSeliarnliorst. and the heroes’ section is also remarkable. It is soim thing to be able to see one <t the ma-. innguns captured by Lance-Corporal lb S. Gordon, of tin- -11 <t Battalion, at Afaricourt in August. ÜBB, when he rounded up two officers, til men and (i machine guns in successive bombing raids on a very dangerous sector.

Neither is the collection without ithumour. There is a field-bookmakers’ sign, and there is a sharp contrast in the Australian and German mens, 'i lie Germans solemnly christened thenstreets “Tirpitz Street” and “lloiienzolleru Street.” while the men from down under plumped for such name* as “Dinkitm Alley,” “Digger Read.” “Wmobajs Road” and Dingbat Street,”

Finally there is the stuffed head of “Sandy,” the chargor of Major-Gen-oral Bridges, who died from woundreceived at Gallipoli in May. l!)l-> and who came hack to Australia with his master. “Over KitUKHt h„rses l-f' Australia during the war.” says lie notice. “Sandy alone returned.” —Q.P.