Out and H ome .—By the Extractor.
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The factories of France are gradually rehabilitating themselves. 1 hear of several cases where particularly capable men are called back from the fighting line and are being. reinstated in the various factories so that Government. work, be it tire making or vehicle construction, can be adequately pro ceeded A similar procedure go-es -the British centres of industly ; certain inanufaeturers have shown me a circular from Lord Kitchener in which he directs that their men must not enlist, and he is careful to explain that men thus engaged are serving their King and Country just as effectively as if they were out at the Front. I was interested to see that some makers have printed a card quoting Lord Kitchener's words and have issued these individually, endorsed to their workmen;, so much private recruiting is going on now that the workmen in question by producing the card save themselves much mortification.
• Disappointment, I fancy, has been the lot of the Americans who recently invaded our shores with trucks for sale. The War Offit;e have, I understand, bought certain American-made wagons, but they have declined to take upon themselves a large number of models for obvious reasons. The number of American makers is legion ; there are so many makers of special parts in the U.S.A. which are assembled with variations of detail—the result being that there are four times as many American types as British, all More or less distinct. I have had some conversation with more than one American truck representative, and they look upon this country as being almost impossible, that is for, ordinary commerce, apart from war purposes, because their prices work out so much in advance of the British figures.
War Items.
Colonel Frank Garrett and Captain Stephen Garrett, so well known in connection with the Leiston steam-wagon firm, have been on active service since the commencement of the war, and I understand that they left for France about a month ago. Letters received from them show that they are now "within sound of the guns." Good hick to them. Petrol tractots of 105 h.p., for moving siege guns, are now being made in large quantities by Messrs. Foster and Co., Ltd., of Lincoln, with Daimler engines. I am not surprised that a commission has been given to Mr. Arthur Mann Of the Mann Steam Wagon works ; although he has had no previous military experience and is still in his salad days. Mr. Arthur Mann has a Most complete knowledge of steamwagon manufacture and the handling of them, and he is equally at home with petrol vehicles. Captain Wilberforce Burrell, of the Thetford firm, was at. the Smithfield Show on Wednesday only ; he returned to his duties at Colchester. He has been connected with the Army for 17 years. Lientenant R. G. L. Markham. for .a lone time associated with Thornycrofts and later with Temple Press, is now very hard at work as inspector in the Naval Air Service.
Cyclists are still very regardless of their own safety, when a red reflector on the back stays would render them immune from certain accidents. Nowanights, within the Metropolitan area, when motorists are only allowed 'a very small glimmer, one approaches within a yard or two of the cyclist, before being aware of his presence, and it would be for the general safety if the ,military authorities, as they seem to be usurping all manner of rights under the Defence of the Realm Act, would insist on red reflectors being used. I notice a very sensible plan adopted by a marching column of Volunteer Reserves the other Saturday evening. They were marehing,
as usual, four abreast, on a main road, and the offside hind man carried an ordinary motor tail lamp. There was no noise arising from them, they were probably tired of singing, and 'the red 'light warning was in this -case a most useful one.
I mentioned this circuinstance to a friend —a mine who has lately given up bridge, golf and the domestic hearth for volunteering. He carries books on arnly drill in every pocket, he applies military expressions to the most ordiuify every-day mOvernents he criticises Kiplirig's articles, aaterting that that great authority does not comprehend present-day military terms. In reply to an incautious' inquiry of mine he deinonstrated the comPlete -movements of Swedish drill at the luncheon table, to the Consternation of a lot of strangers whe had One huh no harm: He at nay eivilian way of patting it "off-side hind man," etc., and carefully explained that "a red lamp should be carried by the rear rarik flank man, either on'the main column:, Or the rear gliard, should there be one detailed." Of course, he urges me to join one of the various corps, but he warils---ino that men-of
my build are termed " Tunny Atkins:" "'" •
If the homeland can produce Eau de Cologne!,to the satisfaction of oar" femininity, and it is 'dolfe.;'for •I know ladies-, quite pernickety about perfunieg,'who plump for the British article in preferencete the erStwhile popular 4711, then -surely tires can be made in the country where they originated'? Small wonder then that British solid tires are giving every-'SatisfkCon just as British magnetos are, and with more reason, because the princiP-al niakers haVe gi4,en
their best to perfect them, .give some •extract below from a Wood-Milne letter just received' .
"We are extremely interested to read the excellent article in this week's issue on the subject of EXploded Tire Beliefs' which no doubt will prove of great interest to your readers generally. "May we, however, mention that as far as our own productions are concerned, we have never acknowledged the supremacy of foreign-made tires, and the records of mileage of Wood-Milne tires on London buses published by us from time to time in your advertising columns will we: think fully confirm this, particularly when it is borne in mind that such results were achieved in competition under precisely similar conditions,.with practically every make of solid. tire. The present suspension of foreign priiductions has, of course, served to bring into greater prominence the qualities of British-made tires, and as doubtless is also the case with other British tire manafacturcrs, we are experiencing a very big demand for our goods. "We are now supplying practically every manufacturer of commercial vehicles in this country, and there must be by this time some -hundreds of vehicles at the Front fitted with Wood-Milne tires. In addition to our home business we have had some very big indents, from our Colonial agents ; thus you will see that, so far as we are concerned, there is every intention of doing our part to maintain the supremacy of Britishmade solid tires."