GERMAN RELICS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 53, 31 January 1938, Page 8

GERMAN RELICS.

FLAGS FROM SAMOA. CHRISTCHURCH CLAIMS. Per Press Association. CHRICTCHURCH, Jan. 28. Two further claims of the capture of German flags at Samoa have been made, bringing the total to eight. Both the new claims were reported to-day by a resident of Christchurch, Mr L. H. Buchanan. The two flags are said to have been taken by Private Harry Laurenson, a brother-in-law of Mr Buchanan, who landed with the advance party at Samoa in 1914. One flag is said to have been taken from the residence of the German Governor in Samoa and the other from a German pinnace. A report from Wellington on January 21 stated tha ttliere were three flags of which the authenticity had been established at the Auckland Museum, and that three other flags claimed to have been captured at Samoa had since been produced. A large flag taken from the Governor’s residence, Mr Buchanan explained, had been presented by Private Laurenson to Wellington College in 1914. A smaller flag, about 16 inches by 12 inches, which had been taken from a pinnace, had been in Mr Buchanan’s possession since that year and was at present hanging in the hall of his home. ’ This flag bears the inscription of Private Laurenson: “Taken from the longboat of the Governor of Samoa ; August-September, 1914.”