Historic German Flags

From Samoa.

BY recent gifts from two New Zealand women, the Auckland War Memo rial Museum now has in its possession the three German flags captured by the N.Z. Expeditionary Force on its arrival in Samoa on August 29, 1914. One is the first German flag to be captured in any theatre of the Great War.

When the N.Z, Force landed at Apia, an official party marched to Government Louse to take possession of the flag.

In the meantime, another party went to the Post Office and cut down the flag there. This latter ensign, which was taken half an hour before the official party secured the one at Government House, was preserved by the soldier who commandeered it. Eventually, it passed into the hands of Mrs. Ewena Cate, of Blenheim, who in December offered it to the Museum. Measuring 3 ft. by 5 ft., it bears the insignia of the former German Crown, above the pos tal sign—a bugle. The N.Z. authorities already had placed the “official” flag in the Museum.

In January, the third of the captured banners was sent to the Museum by Mrs. A. Slattery, of Davonport, whose son, Corporal Gilbert Slattery (now of Sydney), secured it from a German administrative building. It is 9 ft. by 12 ft., and is in perfect condition. In the centre are the German Imperial Eagle and Crown.