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A Story of an Unattended Heavy Tractor.

10th November 1925
Page 2
Page 2, 10th November 1925 — A Story of an Unattended Heavy Tractor.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

J'ARSH although such a rule may seem, five years would appear to be about the limit of time during which a motor vehicle may be left unattended at the toadside in the Departement of the Seine.

A familiar landmark has just been lost to Paris. Just outside one of the western gates of the city a gigantic military tractor was drawn Up alongside the kerb many years ago, and there it had remained ever since. My own residence in Paris only covers the years 1923-24-25, but on my first arrival I was assured that the machine in question had already been in position for more than two years. And now, alas! it has gone. There is something pathetic in the passing of this leviathan. In its day it had known genuine greatness. It was one of those really impressive affairs known by various endearing names in the Army—the type that used to haul the largest variety of big gun along the roads, a piece at a time. On its passing through a French village behind the lines cottage roofs would fall, horses would stampede, and strong men (especially those engaged in cooking returns !) would cover their ears and mutter strange oaths.

It should be mentioned that during its five years' rest by the roadside our heavy tractor was for sale. Buyers of this particular kind of hardware are, however, few in peace time, and the price demanded for the machine was in excess of its scrap value.

Its appearance was quite attractive. In the summer a small but hearty crop of oats and barley grew upon its upper works, relieved during the last two seasons by an artistic, if unprofitable, sprinkling of "poppies in the corn."

The sale was eventually forcea by the police, who considered, rightly or wrongly, that the thing had been there long enough. The proprietor had to lower his terms and dispose of the tractor at once for anything It would 018 fetch, and, strange to say, somebody actually bought it.

Upon lb. sudden disappearance last week I interrogated the owner of the scrap lorry emporium before which it had reposed for so long as to how it had been moved away. " Mais qu'est ce que vous voulez, monsieur?" he replied. "The man who buy it 'e just start up moteur an' drive it away."

Now, far be it from me to suggest that he was not speaking the truth. At the same time, he Was reluctant to give precise details as to the removal and ultimate destination of the tractor.

Had the vehicle stood upon ordinary macadam, it would probably have sunk into the ground and disappeared long ago. As it happened, however, it stood upon good hard granite setts. Even so, it has left its imprint, and the said imprint is some three inches lower than the level of the surrounding pav6. Whilst the integrity of French scrap dealers is, as already mentioned, every bit as high as is to be desired, their actual methods of doing business are rather different from those prevailing in this country, for example. The dud lorry merchantD covers his stock with thick layers of paint (khaki ist7the colour ; unlimited stocks of it were left over from the war, very old in the can now, but still quite serviceable).

The stock is then pushed out on to the pavement—. that is to say, such portions of the stock as may be pushable. Little or none is self-propelled, of course. The patron next takes up his position in a sort of lair from which he can see without being seen. Should you pause but for one second to gaze upon his amazing collection of junk, he will dart upon you like a hunting spider, bawling in your ear the French equivaleol of :— " Like to buy a nice lorry to-day, sir? Buy! buy! 'Ere's a nice 'arf shoulder er Liberty engine!" etc. Autres peuples, dares moeurs; n'est-ce pas? L.G.D.

Tags

Organisations: Army
People: Mais qu'est
Locations: Paris

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