"EYES" FOR THE ARMY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 61, 23 August 1940, Page 4

"EYES" FOR THE ARMY

Radio Appeal Relieves Shortage In Binoculars And Compasses

HILE German craftsmen of f sleepy Jena and busy Berlin ) put the finishing touches to numbers of expensive binoculars and telescopes, thoughts of war may have occurred to them, since such instruments are as necessary to war as guns and airplanes. They may have even speculated on the ultimate destination of their products, knowing that many of them went abroad. But few of them could have imagined that some of their finest "binoculars and telescopes would find a home in New Zealand, or that, at the request of the Government, their present owners would present them to the Government for the use of our soldiers in the second World War. Such a request, however, has had that result. That is why field-glasses whose past usefulness has been concerned only with following the progress of racehorses on the track; telescopes through which many a Wellington resident has followed the course of ships in the harbour, and compasses which have been used in surveying great tracts of New Zealand territory have all found their way to the office of 2YA Wellington. A radio appeal brought them there, by hand and by post from as far afield as Blenheim and back-country farms in Hawke's Bay. In two days between £300 and £400 worth had been carefully stored at 2YA, waiting to be handed over to the Army authorities. The first arrived late at night, within a few hours of the first appeal over the air. They were still arriving when this was written. The Army is short of binoculars and prismatic compasses, which form an essential part of the equipment of every officer in the field, hence the appeal over the air. During war-time such instruments are in greater demand than the supply permits, and their manufacture, which requires great efficiency and technical skill, is a difficult problem. Lenses alone are the slow product of highly trained craftsmen. Since the radio appeal, however, the shortage of supply as far as the New Zealand Forces is concerned will be overcome to a great extent, Among the first of these gifts was a pair of binoculars which were once the property of the late W. H. Sefton Moorhouse, a descendant of one of New Zealand’s most forceful politicians and public personalities of the pioneering days. They were presented by his nephew, a resident of Wellington. The gifts range from instruments which resemble family heirlooms to the most modern products of the optical manufacturer’s art, complete in monogrammed leather cases. Even opera glasses have been presented by citizens

whose patriotic zeal is greater than their knowledge of the military scene. There are long, old-fashioned sets of glasses, minus their cases, which must have been regarded as the "last word" at many an early Wellington race meeting, and other compact little sets which unfortunately have long ago been divorced from their cases. Military ingenuity, however, may be able to make up this deficiency. Some of the binoculars and compasses obviously have historic associations, for many of those which have been presented saw service in Egypt

and France during the last war. Now they are to go overseas again with officers of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Too old for this campaign, officers of the last war are again doing what they can by parting with their cherished souvenirs. After every engagement in France in which our men were engaged there was always a desire to find German binoculars among the enemy "souvenirs." Zeiss glasses were eagerly sought; finding meant keeping in those days. Gifts have been sent to 2YA from University professors, farmers, manufacturers, ex-soldiers and sailors, all eager to help as they are able. Several sets of instruments have been sent anonymously. The telescopes range from small folding ones resembling tiny Thermos flasks to massive affairs requiring their own stands-the sort of thing which will

be eminently useful for coastguards. Yachtsmen have been most generous, for some of the telescopes come from owners of sailing craft. Many of the prismatic compasses are of standard Army pattern, used in the last war. Others are larger, the sort of instrument used by surveyors, and presented by them. Most of the expensive binoculars are of German manufacture. There is one large and impressive set bearing the name "Carl Zeiss, Jena,’ and another stamped "Goerz, Berlin." Both are famous mames wherever lenses are used. Germany and Switzerland specialise in the manufacture of high-grade lenses for all optical instruments, though in recent years the Dutch and the Belgians had improved their products so successfully that they were beginning to take a good deal of the German trade. The scene at 2YA has been repeated at other broadcasting stations in New Zealand. Not every person possesses binoculars or compasses or a telescope, but the result of the appeal shows that those who do possess them know where their duty lies,