WAR TROPHIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1921, Page 5

WAR TROPHIES.

THE EXHIBITION OPENED. AN INTERESTING DISPLAY. The war trophies exhibition, which is touring the Dominion, opened in the Coronation Hall, New Plymouth, last night, when a continuous throng of people wended their way to the hall. The spacious building lends ‘itself admirably to a display of this nature and gave the exhibitors every opportunity of arranging the different war relics to advantage. Eight hundred school children saw the exliibiition yesterday, and the takings for tlie day and night were over £2O.

The opening of the exhibition was quite an informal affair, the official opening ceremony being abandoned. Early in the evening the Citizens’ Band elivened the proceedings with a few outside the hall. The spectators found much of interest. The first object of attention is naturally the captured German Albatross ’plane, which has a prominent position near the entrance. The trench-mortars, antiaircraft guns, shells, carrying in size from the huge IJ-ton monster to tiny “squibs,” the 220-h.p. Benz aeroplane engine. all claim attention. Long cagedin rows of smaller relics run half the length of the hall and a study of all of them would engage attention and interest for hours.

A very fine exhibition of flags, chiefly of those captured from the enemy, are a prominent feature. Two huge Greek flags suspended at either end of the hall are particularly prominent. Around the sides of the hall various incidents and side-lights on the war are presented most graphically by means of large.size official photographs. One case contained an array of military distinctions. including a Victoria Cross, D. 5.0., D.C.M., Medal Militaire, arid others. Another interesting section was a collection of silver cups, including the Rugby Cup presented by the King and won by the soldier All Blacks in the in-ter-army tourney held in England after the war. Other equally engaging ex. hibits are to be found, and a stroll round the hall will prove most educative and enlightening to those who do not possess first-hand knowledge of the great struggle which waged in Europe for over four years. The exhibition will be open all day to-day and remains in New Plymouth for a week. Yesterday some of the school children were conducted round by the officials in charge and to-day others will be given an opportunity to view the