A YEAR AGO.
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[Extracts from this journal of the 5th November, 1914.]
"Proper and Improper Uses of the Letters 0.H.M.S."
We are glad to find that the War Office has recently issued a notice in regard. to the wrongful use of the letters 0.14.M.S.' on motor vehicles ofIvarious types, as a means ofdentification. The use of these letters is in certain cases authorized, but only in conjunction with the ordinary plates of identification. . . . We are able to record, on the other hand, a beneficial and pleasing use of the letters by several leading members of the industry who are busily engaged upon output for war purposes. In the Thornycroft works at Basingstoke, for example, every man has been furnished by his employers with a metal badge upon which is engraved' suitable wording to the effect that the wearer is engaged `0.11.11.1.S.' on 'War Service.' A talisman of this kind is a great protection to workers who, whilst they are apparently fit for military duties, are still found pursuing a civilian occupation. Thousands of men the country over are doing much more valuable work in every sense, by sticking to the jobs at which they are expert, than by enlisting and beginning to train as soldiers. The skilled artisan arid mechanic should not be lost to the productive capacity of the country, especially at such a time as the present.''
"U.S.A. Getting Busy."
"We reported the recent shipment of 400 five-ton lorrias per single ship, from new York, in our issue a last week. We are now in a position to state that other large consignments of trucks have already gone direct to Russia, presumably from the Western seaboard of the United States, and that the French Government has completed the purchase from various U.S.A. makers of 1400 trucks. The Pierce-Arrow works at Buffalo are now giving delivery, for war purposes, of 10 standard two-ton chassis daily. The risk Of seizure as contraband of war does not dismay American manufacturers so long as their consignments are addressed to one of the entente Powers."
"One Hears--"
"That A.S.C. inspectors have been keen on the starting-up test of late."
"That the plan-view of headlamp glare is the most conspicuous of all lights." " That when some of the A.S.C. officers asked for their commissions, they did not expect to be employed as chief clerks.r
Our Universal Road System—con,
directly to divert a large proportion of the heavy traffic on to roads which are not suited for that traffic:. This result. is economically unsound. It will undoubtedly be better to allow a reasonable latitude in the conduct of the traffic of the county, the best handling of which must clearly react favourably upon many of the boroughs which are Onated within the geographical county, than to en ice a series of artificial and conflicting methods of \vorking. Hostility engenders hostility.
We look for a gradual relaxation of abnormal conditions such as those to which we have referred, when the new Heavy Motor Car Order comes out, or in the course of legislation which will follow the of that new Order. Through traffic must not be hampered, but, at the same time, those who are responsible for through traffic must not be selfish in their methods of conducting it. Again, there can be no prohibition of local delivery by means of heavy-motor vehicles :. if there is, local trade must suffer. The general indications point to a joint aeL ceptance of through routes, at the outset, as the result of conferences. We are convinced that everybody will be well advised to endeavour to reach a settlement by arrangement, and honourably to observe that arrangement when it is made. One consequence of such a scheme of working, end one which will be welcomed by 95 per cent. of the users of this country, is tins: users who habitually overload and over-drive, and who for those reasons seek to use unsuitable by-ways, will be segregated. Lancashire is now giving a lead.