HISTORIC GUNS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16822, 21 August 1920, Page 9

HISTORIC GUNS.

“MOTHER’S” RECORD IN FRANCE. The Imperial AVar Museum, London, has many objects of Intelesr Tho Army section, like that of iho Navy, abounus in big guns. These arc impressive in thomaoivos, but the uuerese, they oxI cite writ be largely .increased by tho histories, dotaileu and precise, to be attached to. them for everybody to see. “Mother,” the huge 9.2 m. Howitzer, may be quoted as an example of tho living records of these guns with a past. Tho first howitzer or her kind, she was ■ carrying out firing trials at Rhayader in July, 1014, and on thooutbreaic of war was left in charge of tiie local sergeant of constabulary, as time was too short to entrain her. In October, however, she was taken to the Bth Siege Battery of the R.G.A. in Franco; and, being secretly mounted at La Couture gained high reputation by destroying an enemy heavy battery near Lorgios in eight rounds, Bui it was considered that the lino was not held securely enough for . Lor to remain so near it in safety, so she was dismounted and removed. Then the 18-tou tractor sank in the road, whence 200 men tailed to remove it. When tho tractor was .abandoned tho howitzer was towed, on by a .steam auuuuuitiou lorry. Lord I (then Sir John) French came to see “Mother,” who opened fire again at AVarneton. She Had now become- an object of general curiosity; an infantry guard was detailed to keep away enemy aeroplanes. “Mother’s” next important visitor was the Prince of AVales, who saw her in action and photographed her. in tho early part of 191-3 she became part of the lOiii Siege Battery of the R.G.A., niid assisted m the battles of Ncuvo Chapollc and Festubort. On July 6 siio was sent home, and fired at Shoebnryness till worn out. In 1917, having been relined, she was reissued to I 1 ranee, and renumbered in January, 1918. STORY OF A 13-POUNDER. Another gun with a story is the 13.pounder fought by “E” Battery of tho Royal Horse Artillery from 191-1 to 1918. On August 22, 1914, she went into action near Bincho. opening lire on a German battery at 400 U yards range with tho first British shell of the war on the Western front. She was in action at Mens, Lc Gateau, and continuously during tho retreat; then at the ( Battle of ihe Marne, and during tho advance to the Aisno. At the Petit Morin she received a direct hit on the shield from an enemy shell, which killed the whole detachment. A plate was put over the hole, and sho lived on to be nearly captured at the first Battle of Ypros. All her activities cannot be ■enumerated, but in March, 19.18, she was involved in tho retreat of tho Fifth Army before tho German offensive, and later was engaged in the final British advance. As sho was firing about October 22 east of Bohain, she proved to bo one of the last guns in action, and eventually accompanied the battery into Germany. Sho never required relating nor alteration, and at tho armistice was found to bo shooting with more accuracy than several of the newer guns, A “75” presented by the French Government, will also be shown, with a long and glorious record attached. Here, as in tho case of the British guns, the officers who served with tho battery are. set forth. It is a lilting, tribute to bravery and self-sacrifice, .tho extent of which will bo to a small extent realised by everybody studying these detailed histories of the guns and the men who stood by them to the death. It has been more difficult to ascertain tho record of tho captured guns which form part of tho museum., Ono of them, of an 1881 pattern, remains a striking demonstration of tho straits to winch Germany was reduced. Yet 1831 is very recent compared with tho years represented by some of the Turk and Arab guns and other weapons. These form an extraordinary collection of antiquities, though perhaps not so notable as the specimens of new weapons that look like very old ones. Such are the clubs and maces of various design, the Gorman body-armour, the grenade-throwers, and, lor the matter of that, our own “tin hats.” A wooden gnu, used by the Gormans for lobbing bombs into tho trenches, is a reminder to the archaeologist that the last time a wooden gun is known to have been employed was at tho siege of Boulogne in 1340. AA'ith this relic the two gigantic periscopes, reaching from tho floor to the roof of tho Crystal Palace, may be usefully contrasted. REALISTIC TRENCH MODELS. Tho British trench signs, such as “Piccadilly Circus,” “Surrey Lane,” and “Polling Booth,” will be of great historical value. At tho moment, however, they may not bo viewed more eagerly than tho German and Turkish notices. A glimpse into the complexity of tho German mind is afforded by tho really handsomely printed instruction sot np at tho entrance to ruined Poronno: Nicht argern, nur wuudern! (Do not bo angry, only wonder!). This, after they had knocked Perouno to pieces. But, after all, none of these signs may be so thrilling to the people who go through the museum in after years as the Gorman “Nach Nazareth” side by side with the English “To Station and Hebron Road,” and tho hand pointing the direction, “Mount of Olives.” The ruins of Peronno enter largely into a composite model designed to show the appearance of a French town as devastated by the Gormans. There are models of many sorts. Ono exhibits a front trench, whore realism is carried so far as_ to portray a British soldier eating his meal under tho scrutiny of a rat. Another gives an excellent idea in an observation post in a manufactured tree. A third explains camouflage. A fourth exhibits the Tanks performing their “stunts.” A fifth is of the Butte do AA r arlonconvt, and made- of material taken from the Butte itself. Actual operation models used in Franco are not so elaborate, but none the less instructive. Two curiosities, widely separated in the museum, may be given a special corner in the visitor’s mind. Under a very bright glass-case repose some of the rifles which Casement brought over to Ireland. In a corner rests "for the present, a double bicycle with a little dynamo at the back; German defaulters were obliged to sit on it, pedalling the night long in the service of the which supplied light to a portion of a trench.