MODERN ARMY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22474, 8 January 1943, Page 5

MODERN ARMY

Display Of Equipment

LONDON. Jan. 6

The first exhibition ever held in the history of the British Army is “open” to staff officers, also to Dominion and Allied officers. It was arranged by the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, and shows all the equipment needed for one division, from the famous 25-pOunders to boiled sweets. “One of everything” is shown, giving officers an excellent idea of what a modern army takes into battle.

The exhibition is kept up to date with the latest equipment, including the dusted types which it replaces. Brigadier R. S. Park (Dunedin), Officer Commanding the New Zealand troops in the United Kingdom, is among those who have seen the exhibition.

Tlie exhibition gives the best possible idea of the wealth of detail which goes into equipping a modern army. It incorporates important details such as waterproof covers for sparking-plugs. Commandos’ gear includes such pretty details as knuckle-dusters and knuckledusters to which daggers are attached: also rope-soled boots and a special axe for hacking down electric cables. This last is fitted with a rubber handle capable of resisting a shock of 20,000 volte. Airborne troops are equipped with even shoemakers’ outfits, while for assault troops who may have to spend some time in landing craft, there are tins of seif-heating soup which beats in five minutes after an element has been ignited by a cigarette butt. There are solidified fuel, chopped bacon, and a variety of tinned foods, also tinned cigarettes.

Visitors can have the pack wireless demonstrated. This comprises a small set which is carried in a pack. The exhibition emphasises the importance of saving shipping space by the correct packing of heavy equipment. which, it is estimated, resulted in a average saving of 50 per cent, of shipping tonnage on a range of 75 per cent of equipment. Also shown are pneumatic saws, spades, picks, woodborers and electric mine detectors.