1915

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 27, 23 April 1927, Page 9

1915

JJUDDLED together in a remote corner of Aucklands’ Domain, rusted, worn, obsolete, are a number of battle-scarred German guns. “Fried Krupp. 1915,” reads the inscription of one veteran, now forgotten, and relegated to the rear of a lavatory. There THE SUN’S photographer found them, alone with their thousand memories of war days in France. Next week Aucklanders will, with reverence, recall those days of 1915, so portentous in the history of our Empire. While Bertha Krupp, German Armament Queen, was busily stoking the furnaces of her Essen foundries, New Zealanders were achieving the impossible by scaling the Gallipoli cliffs.

In France, the Old Contemptibies of Field-M arehal French were still holding their own on those blood-soaked plains. Yet, to-day, these war trophies are forgotten. The field guns rest, secure from the gaze of even the curious passer-by, behind this outhouse. Though destined for the Auckland War Museum, the authorities contend that a few more months in the open Avill make little difference. With a coat of paint, and a little burnish, it is suggested, they will be just as smart as when they left the Krupp works to pour their death-dealing fire into the enemies of The Fatherland. Nevertheless, at this time when we commemorate the spirit of Anzac, it is to be regretted that these trophies of war are not in a more appropriate setting.