NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM.

AN AMBITIOUS SCHEME.

Widespread interest has been aroused by the announcement which appeared in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph of the Government’s decision to erect a great National War Museum. In the words of Sir Alfred Mond (First Commissioner of Works), “the scheme is of a magnificent character, and the museum will be one of the most remarkable buildings in Europe.” In conversation yesterday with one of our representatives, an official closely in touch with the project stated that the National War Museum, which is going to be permanent, and not temporary, will rank alongside the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Such a statement is in itself evidence of the great importance of the scheme now in contemplation, and assured of being carried out. The hope entertained, and the purpose in view, is that the project will develop into the creation of a National Naval and Military Museum, at which soldiers and sailors and prospective soldiers and sailors may learn the story of their country’s wonderful achievements in the great war. It is not intended to be a museum of enemy trophies. These will be exhibited, but they are not to be the main feature. The object is to demonstrate how we, a non-military people, when faced with the defence of our very existence as a nation, developed our resources, produced ships, guns, and ammunition never dreamt of, and by our national and patriotic effort, saved civilisation from the rule of the Hun. The work of the humblest munition worker up to that of the most skilled artisan, illustrating the gradual development of the nation’s efforts in the war, will be shown, and will prove to future generations an object-lesson as to the great part their predecessors played when everything was at stake. For instance, the guns of the famous Queen Elizabeth will be there. The complete turret of the same famous vessel will be exhibited. There will be a series illustrating every type of gun we have used during the war, and likewise a model of every ship which has protected these shores – from the greatest Dreadnought down to the most modest but pluckiest drifter which has helped to clear the highways and byways of the seas of mines. In a word it will be an exhibition of how we “did it” out of nothing by developing our resources – moral and material.

QUESTION OF SITE.

The question of a site is exercising much attention. A committee, presided over by the Earl of Crawford (a former First Commissioner of Works), has had the matter in hand for some time, and has now placed its recommendations before the War Cabinet, with which the final decision as to site rests. The museum buildings promise to be of huge dimensions. It is stated that two sites have been definitely recommended – one in Hyde Park on a piece of ground lying above the Serpentine on the Bayswater side, and the other on the south side of the Thames, adjoining the new County Council Hall. So far as the former is concerned the site could be obtained free, while in connection with the latter there would be a cost of half a million sterling, and it would take two years to clear out the existing buildings and prepare it for the necessary work. There are, however, many who strongly object to the Hyde Park proposal, the opinion being that if the project is of such great national importance it is worth paying for without sacrificing any portion of London’s open spaces. On the other hand, there are those who consider that the site south of the new County Council Hall is most inconvenient and out of the way, while the Hyde Park position is admirable from the point of view of the thousands of people who daily visit the park, especially children, and who would be attracted to such a museum. The matter has to come before the War Cabinet and will be settled one way or another in the course of a very short time. It is interesting to learn that since Sir Alfred Mond, in his position as First Commissioner of Works, accepted the proposal to establish a museum in London commemorative of the war, the Germans have followed our example, and are now setting up a national war museum recording the life of Germany during the war.