The French Military Trials for 1912.
Page 12
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In view of the fact. that our own War Office appears at last to be contemplating the conduct of actual trials of vehicles which are to be submitted by British manufacturers for subvention by the State, it is instructive to examine briefly the latest published particulars with regard to the forthcoming military trials in Franeo. Already there are 76 entrants, and of these two are new-corners compared with last year, namely, a Motobloe 2 tonner, and a La Buire of the same load capacity.
It may be remembered that Saurer in 1909 was the only maker to submit a petrol-driven wagon drawing a trailer. This year, however, it appears that the " cannon tracteur-porteur " is to receive attention from the hands of a number of other makers, viz.. Peugeot_ Delahaye, Lorraine-Dietrich, Renault, and Bayard-Chiment. The four last-mentioned makers are also entering ordinary lorries. The total number of makers so far represented in the new list is 18. Last year it was 14, in 1910 it was 9, and in 1909 it was 11. The machines which will be submitted to trial next August will include the Latil Avant-train, and anothrr interesting machine, a 31-ton petrol-electric Aries. Both Bayard-Cloment and Berliet have eight entries ; the Purrey steamer is represented by four ; whilst Saurer, Panhard and Levassor, Vinot, Delaugatre, Dietrich, de Dion and Delahaye each have four down to compete.
The full schedule of particulars with regard to the trials which are to be held this year has now been issued by the Minister of War, M. Millerand. .As, however, it is only machines of French construction entirely which are eligible, as during the past two years, we need not concern ourselves with the details of organization therein set out. We may, however, have occasion to compare them when the intentions of our own War Office become known.
No change of regulations of a very sensational nature has been embodied, but one which will have advantages for manufacturers is the increase in the number of authorized centres at which vehicles can he submitted for preliminary examination at the hands of the technical district committees. These. centres now number 21. whereas previously they only numbered nine. Thus, again, does the French Minister of War study the home manufacturer. Some alteration has been made in connection with the necessity to carry spare wheels and the purchase of tires, and the list of spare parts and equipment has been modified to a considerable extent. The trIals which the Commission Centrale will have to organize must have, under the regulations, a duration of not less than 28 days, with a daily stage of not less than 100 kilometres. In future it will not be necessary for owners of French subsidized vehicles to purchase tire replacements through the makers of the wagons ; they can, contrary to the superseded regulations, obtain them from the tire manufacturers direct.