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Somewhat Prophetic.

18th March 1915, Page 4
18th March 1915
Page 4
Page 5
Page 4, 18th March 1915 — Somewhat Prophetic.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Bruges, Magneto

Failure to Conquer the Air : the Impossibility of the Zeppelin. Foreseeing the Invasion of Belgium. The Way to Berlin.

Major Magneto's Dream or the Great Illusion. By " Petrola Zola."

REPRINTED FROM " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR," DATED 5th OCTOBER, 1911.

And so Major Magneto was in townagain—aged and forgotten—after long years spent in the Pro .vinees inspecting and registering motor lorries, the last survivor of the staff appointed in 1911. The past few weeks he had spent in the Highlands, a wet and. dreary job, chasing some erratic laundry vans that were required to complete his great survey. Start.ing as a dashing young officer, he ended his career as • a collector of statistics, and had now returned to London to hand in his last report before going on the retired list.

He was resting at headquarters (termed by a ribald Press the "Home of the Great Illusions "), waiting for the farewell interview with his chief ; his thoughts passed in review over his life's work, and, fatigued, he slept. 'War had been declared; transports in serried lines lay in the great southern harbour ready for the embarkation of the expeditionary force ; giant cranes lowered motor lorries on their decks ; the air was thick with the fumes of petrol, as fleet after fleet

of "registered vehicles" passed from all the roads that converged on the docks.. Hundreds were already on board the ships ; hundreds more were moving to the quays.

They looked smart and serviceable in new khaki paint, and their registration plates shone_ in the morning sun. Oh, those plates ; for long years had the great illusionists waited for a CanoVa, an Angelo .

or a Wren to arrive and design those massive scrolls that enWrehthed the registration data. -.And, as they moved along, with the usage that is born of habit, ex-bus-conductors hailed passengers for the " Bank

or Elephant"* * • * Apart from the bustling throng stood a group of old colonels, *h'o for years had "Contributed diatribes against motor transport under the norns de plume of " Half-pay." and " Retired." To-day, :their anger was unmistakable. Where were the splendid horses,

the hardy mules, and those collapsible wagons that their men dismantled and re-assembled on the barrack square with a "speed that was at once-the envy • and despair of the •inost-ardent orponent of the "jig

saw" puzzle? •

The repair trains, the motortoWers for observation purposes fitted with mirrors reflecting all the surrounding country, motor diggers that excavated trenches at lightning speed, batteries of light guns on motor lorries, searchlights, aeroplane workshops and motor ambulances, etc. A -east and imposing tribute to the Major's life-work. *

The Allied Forces were drawn through Belgium, their left resting on Bruges—opposing the enemy's advance. A general engagement was hourly expected, when an aerial scout brought information of the projected surprise landing of troops on the coast, to attack the allies in the rear. Brigades were hurried in motor _wagons to the coast under General Gears ; the area from Knock to Heyst, and thence through Blankenbergh to Ostend, was lined with troops ; great .motor diggers tore trenches along the A22 line ; engineer officers from the motor towers directed operations ; motor artillery was massed at various points, and motor dressing-stations and hospitals prepared for eventualities. From whitewinged aeroplanes came messages on the aeroplione to the control towers beneath. *

Just before darkness faded, the gleam of a star shell on the right announced the aiyi-valOf the transports and the commencement of the attempted landing by boats and rafts ; a moment later, the motor batteries' opened a terrific fire, moving from point to point, their movements directed from the towers and aeroplanes above. Streams of wounded—no longer borne on jolting stretchers—were placed on motor lorries and conveyed to the dressing-stations and base motor hospitals. Showers of shell were fired by the transports to cover the landing, but the splendid trenches afforded adequate protection. Scores of boats and raft were sunk, transports fired and blown up, and the su_rviving craft thrown into inextricable confusion for decimation by the naval force already showing on the horizon, when the gallant commander of the first motor division was killed by the explosion of a petrol tank. Meanwhile, the general attack by the main army had commenced and been hotly pressed ; every inch was being stubbornly contested. The troops despatched to stem the ill-fated invasion were hurried in motor lorries through the venerable streets of Bruges to press the attack on the left, The arrival of this 'vieterions reinforcement and their superiormobility to the oppoSing. side pressed theleft on 'to the centre, and, under., the coneentrated artillery fire of the motor brigade, the enemy retreated, and history repeated the "Great Debacle." Alas, it was only a dream A mirage of what

might have been. * * The bent and grizzled Major was handing the last report to his chief: " Excellent and commendable work, most favourably reported on."* *

Long years after, Ignition K..Magneto, of Kansas City, visited a Metropolitan museum, and there, with the Roman tiles, the historic shoes and tunics of guide-book celebrities, he saw some papers bound in faded pink tape,quaintIy labelled, Some pencillirigs on motor transport," by Major Magneto (deceased).,

The Unconquerable Air.

REPRINTED FROM "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR," 3rd OCTOBER, 1912.

It either indicates abundance of courage or lack of reflection to venture a statement in these days that anything is impossible. We live in an age which is satiating us with science. We take the latest marvel of mechanical skill or chemical deduction as all in a day's work. We hardly make a seven-days wonder of the X-rays or of Marconi's intangible messages. Aerodrome crowds are already bored with the monotony of circuit flying and openly display their anxiety for something to happen. It needs a Titanic disaster to rouse many of us to real wonderment at the forces with whice we are playing. The public, at least the great uninitiated part of it, is probably subconsciously convinced that, in a Lew years at most, we shall be used to aerial

Somewhat Prophetic—con,

pantechnicons and to flying fire-engines. And this in spite of the loss of life which the new industry continues, in increming measure, to entail. The frequent over-confidence of the airman is comparable to that of that class of commercial-vehicle driver who has no remembrance of speed and weight limits, or who is familiarly. contemptible of greasy asphalt. To such over-confidence many aeroplane disasters are undoubtedly due. In no sense, however, can it be claimed that mechanism has mastered the air, nor is it likely to. It is not over-confidence which periodically wraps a Zeppelin over half a German township. Ages of man's inventiveness have changed the surface of the earth a little, but not to the least degree have they controlled the weather. It still rains throughout August if it will ; still .do we have to include exceptions due to " act of God or the king's enemies" in our insurance contracts ; still are many of our arrangenaents made "weather permitting." The weather will never permit the regular exploitation of the air highway for ordinary commercial-purposes. In exceptional cases the ricks of the air, immeasurably greater than those of the ocean, will be taken for the sake of exceptional service. The aeroplane and the dirigible will, in all probability, remain in similar though more picturesque category to the submarine. The weather is no doubt just as bad as it was in the Stone Age, perhaps worse. The nearest we have approached to stopping the rain is to put up our umbrellas.

Not until we can harness the winds and turn aside the tempest, shall we be able to advertise "Delivery direct by airvair in this district daily." But we can busy ourselves on earth with tran4orting the airman's machines and supplies, and, as we recently wrote, the industry will, at any rate, reap considerable benefit thereby.

"Not Through Belgium."

REPRINTED FROM "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR," 24th DECEMBER, 1914. . Germany probably now wishes that it had attacked France, not -through Belgium. We are at the moment concerned to enquire-whether the advancea the Allies Will not be better undertaken if it also he", not-through Belgium. Aftei the turn of the tide of' battle had occurred during the early days of September, we urged, in the only leading article in our issue for the 17th of that month, the necessity for the wholesale acquirement of "more three-thrillers to go after the Germans," coupled with " the necessity for large-scale road-repair preparations," and in addition attention for the necessary steps to provide "pure drinking water by: tank-wagon.". There are goad alternatives to an attack through Belgium.

We heard, more than two months ago—" That they've mined the mud." Correspondents of all classes have heard the same since. The extent of preparations by the Germans for the destruction of communications, in readiness for the inevitable concentration within their own territory, is known to be unprecedented. Tho Germans will in any event do the maximum amount of damage to rail-roads and high-roads; and to the weaker links therein above all, including the bridges and culverts.

"Not through Belgium" is the view of the situation which .we:-are :prompted to adopt-. The British Army, dependent as it is upon road transport for its feeding and supplies, and possessed of unrivalled resources of .self-nropulsion, may be found to advance, and we believe will to the beat advantage do so, not through Belgium. It is.not for us to guess or to prophesy where the steadily-growing British forces will be used. That is notour buSiness. The choice between methods and ways, as to getting round instead of through, is fer:the military leaders to de chic. Our interest in the matter, apart from that of any patriotic Briton who desires the success of his country's Arms, is peculiarly directed to bringing any influences to bear which may result in the greater efficiency, the more-efteetive.application. and the undiminished retention in service, of the Mechanical -Transport. There will he those material advantage, so far as we can see, if the advance is made, not through Belgium. We believe, 'incidentally, that the Germans will be deprived,if the advance is not through Belgium, of an opportunity to lay the blame for the further destruction of property, in Brussels and other Belgian cities, upon the British. The rail-roads and the high-roads of Belgium will be in effect demolished, without relation to the cause which leads to the German concentration east of the Rhine, hut we hope to see that precautions which are necessary to safeguard the maintenance and use of the A,S,C„ .M.T., -will bring about the decision on the part of Genera2s_3offre and French, to continue to hold the Germans at or -about ,where the line is now drawn, leaving the point of new concentration and entry to he disclosed in another place. May it prove to be—not through .Belgium. .There is more, very much more, that we, if unrestrained, might write in support. We wish to see the A.S.C. men used to the very best advantage. Hence our concern.

[Writing now, nearly three months later, we see no , reason to vary our view that the Germans will have , to retire from Belgium by reason of pressure applied "elsewhere", by the British Forces and their Allies. We hope to see the fruits of thoge labours take shape in a march through Belgium,-in place of any cutting through.--En."

Tags

Organisations: British Army
People: Tho Germans

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