WAR MATERIALS EXHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 121, 7 February 1923, Page 4

WAR MATERIALS EXHIBITION

The greatest surprise which the Germans sprung upon an astonished world in August-Sqptcmber, 1914, was the 16in. howitzer, the gun that smashed the fortresses of Liege, Antwerp, and Namur, and so cleared the way for the German advance on Paris. Among Allied authorities on ballistics, the famous German weapon was long regarded as a myth : the thing was impossible in field artillery, because a gun to fire such a projectile must be so ponderous as,to bo to all intents and purposes immobile and therefore useless. The only thing certain was that the Germans’ had something that did tho business. The famous German gun, indeed, was not actually seen by tho Allies until after the armistice in 1918, when the German weapons were actually surrendered. The German 16in. howitzer, however, was a mere “Lilliputian” to what tho British produced in tho -latter period of the war, and actually had in use in 1918 ready “to clear the road to Berlin.” The British weapon tc«>k the form of an 18in. howitzer, the biggest gun then Uj nse. It is not generally known that one of these monster shells from this monster gun is included in the collection of exhibits'nt Trentham for tho National War Museum. Few peop’o so far have seen it, but tho people of Wellington mil be afforded an excellent opportunity of viewing it at tho Drill Hall. Buckle Street, on Saturday next, when it will be included jn the War Materials Exhibition.