COMBINED SERVICES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 105, 31 October 1939, Page 10

COMBINED SERVICES

ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE

DISPLAYS AT EXHIBITION

The displays by the Army, Navy,, an * Air Force in the Government Court jt the Exhibition are abridged for various reasons, including the difficulty of sparing the men who would be required for certain-exhibits, but this does not mean that the three arms of the defence service are not well represented or that their show is lacking in attraction. On the contrary, it is full of interest ana contains much of a spectacular nature.

The air-mindedness of New Zealanders has developed phenomenally in recent years, and that being so, there will be many who will be drawn irresistibly to the 'Air Department's display. And a good'one it is, being arranged m such a way as to show.how aviation has progressed' from its infancy to the position it occupies today. There are two sections. One exhibit, "See How They Fly," comprises a series of photographs and dioramas by which the story of aviation is told—how fish and insects, etc., were studied as.part of the development of. aircraft. It shows also just how engines are able to lift aircraft. There is a large revolving globe showing various world air routes, and by means of a large oval map and many small lights shaped like aeroplanes the routes are shown, over which the Royal Air .Force and the Dominions' air forces, fly " for service purposes.

Also iri this section there are,full-» scale sectioned working models .of itiie; Rolls-Royce Merlin and Bristol Pegasus engines, as well as exhibits of various, engine parts and equipment.

The second section is devoted to an outstanding display of suspended models of aeroplanes, which are an attraction in themselves. One of the models is of the trans-Tasman flyingboat Aotearoa.

The centre piece of the Army pavilion is a modern field gun with mounting. The new Bren gun on an antiaircraft mounting is also featured. Another outstanding attraction of this display will be a gas chamber completely equipped to demonstrate the use of the modern gas helmet. Folding boat equipment, miniature trestles, pontoons, and box girders, representing the engineering side of the Army, and a movie projector to give high lights of Army life, add to the interest of the display. -'.■■■

The Navy exhibit is also a very fine one. The focal point of interest will be a working model of an action between two forces, consisting of five battleships and four cruisers on one side, and four battleships, four cruisers, and a destroyer flotilla on the other. The "action" lasts for about ten minutes, and it is stated to show most realistically such incidents as the blowing up of ships, a torpedo attack, and gun fire. It is the work of officers and ratings of the New Zealand Naval Forces. Another fine display piece is a wireless-controlled ship.

There are models of a Leander-class cruiser, fully equipped with modern navigation lights; of H.M.S. New Zealand, H.M.S. Cumberland (a 10,000-ton cruiser), HJVLS. Otway (a submarine), and H.M.S. Grasshopper (a modern destroyer). Painted on the walls are warships which have visited this country. Diving suits and gear are displayed; there is a collection of badges and photographs; and the principles of the action of torpedoes are shown in a sectioned 18in torpedo from H.M.S. New Zealand. A section is shown of the Leander, a modern cruiser of 7140 tons, the flagship of the New Zealand Naval Station, and in contrast there is a section of the first Leander to be built, a sailing ship. Two items of special interest are the Maori maro and tiki which were presented to Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey when he was in command of H.M.S. New Zealand. Another exhibit of historic interest is the uniform of the late Admiral Sir Joseph. Nias, who was the captain of H.M.S. Herald on the voyage on which Governor Hobson was taken to the Bay of Islands to negotiate the Treaty of Waitangi. This uniform has been lent by the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England.