From Our Berlin Correspondent.
Page 15
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Gaggenau Works Formally Taken Over by Benz' I note that the Siiddeutsche Automobilfabrik at Gaggenau will in future trade under the name of the "Benz-Werke Gaggenau Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung vormals Sfiddeutsche Automobilfabrik." For some time past the Gaggenali works have been practically a Benz branch-establishment, managed by Herr George Wiss.
Telephonic Call-stations for Motorcabs in Germany.
Dusseldorf has now a number of telephonic call-stations for motorcabs, some of them accessible right through the 24 hours. In not a few cases, the telephone boxes (angular constructions with a dome-like top) have been set up expressly for the purpose of calling cabs ; in others, the instruments are in connection with newspaper-kiosks, waitingrooms, al-fresco refreshment-stands of a permanent character, and so forth. Naturally, the automatic, penny-in-the-slot system of ringing up favours the extension of such call-stations.
A German Verdict.
The German Imperial Court of Justice being called upon to handle the claim of a motor-passenger against a tramcar company for injuries sustained to his hand, which happened to be resting on the rail of the rear platform when the bus collided with a car, delivered itself in favour of the plaintiff in the following style so characteristic of Teutonic judicial utterances :—" It must be admitted that for a traffic-accident there is necessary not only an external, i.e., a local and chronological connection of the accident with a traffic-operation of the tramcar, but also an internalcausal connection between the two. But, in so far as traffic in the nar rower sense-the peculiar act of conveyance—is concerned, this causal connection needs no special proof in the separate case if only the possibility of such a connection should exist. That is the case here. It is not only possible, but also in a high degree probable, that, in moving, the car co-operated in injuring the plaintiff—that, manifesting energy and rendered dynamically effective, it, through its progressive motion, prolonged or increased the counter-pressure, and complicated the contusion." Worth framing, isn't it
Austrian Automobile Makers Clamour for More Protection : Dealers Protest.
Not satisfied with the protection already afforded by the customs tariff, the kustrian makers have petitioned the authorities for more, asking that not only State contracts shall be restricted to home producers, but also that concessions to work public automobiles shall be granted only to those who use Austrian-made vehicles. What a lot of coddling some of these foreign industries do require : As it is, the Government claps a duty of £42-.266 on every automobile that crosses the frontier.
Germany's Improved Foreign Trade in Industrials.
Tn 1910, Germany imported 67 freight cars, as against 59 in the preceding year. France and Switzerland did most of the business, Switzerland's share undergoing a striking rise40,600 kilos. to 101,800 kilos. The value of Germany's imports reached 811,000 marks, compared with 597,000 marks for 1909. Her exports expanded from 156 to 225 machines, valued at 1,617,000 marks and 2.636,000 marks respectively. The chief customers were: Russia in Europe. 117.100 kilos. (87.2001: Austro-Bungary, 96.300
kilos. (67,800); Gt. Britain, 80,300 kilos. (79,100); Brazil, 122,000 kilos. (54,200); Italy, 41,900 kilos. (28,900). The figures given in parenthe:428 are for the year 1909.
Germany Strengthening Her Military Motor Service.
The German War Office has decided to separate the motorists' detachment from the Experimental Section of the Transport Service, converting it into an independent battalion under the Inspection of Aero and Automobile Affairs. This leaves the Experimental Section free to pay more intense attention to its specific work, and signifies a considerable strengthening of the detachment in question, which, in October, will consist of three companies some four hundred strong, including the staff and petty officers. Later on, the battalion is to receive detachments from Saxony and Wiirtemberg.
Transport of Explosives:Per Motor Lorry.
At the instance of German motor engineers, the Prussian Government is considering the question of permitting the transport of explosives per motor lorry. A modification of the Explosive Transport Act of 1905 will be necessary before this can be decided in the affirmative. German military experts, by the way, have already expressed the opinion that there is no more danger attached to the use of automobiles than to horse-drawn vehicles for transport of this kind. When once the Government has made up its mind, the trade will soon appear in the field with suitably-designed vehicles. As a German writer very pertinently observes, dangerous explosives cannot be too quickly transported from the place of production to the storage quarter or place of application.