Our Despatches from the Front (No. 102).
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An Interesting Description of a Recent Visit to a French Tractor Training School.
FRENCH TRACTOR SCHOOL,
August, 1916.
On this occasion the two tpactors and trailers were taken to the top of the hill in a little over half an hour. The previous day, after heavy rains, the climb had occupied three hours, and had only been accomplished by• cutting down brushwood to put in the track of the wheels, and by the fiNst tractor helping with its winch to bring up the second.
Driving Tests in Forest Land.
This climb was followed by driving tests through the forest, entirely over tracks, but without any gradients presenting unusual difficulties. As Only two men were required under these ponditions, the remainder of the crew was unloaded and left in tile forest to receive instruction in splicing, making knots, and fitting up block and tackle. • Down and Up Shell Holes by Tractor.
Later in the day a Jeffery and a • Latil were taken to a field on the edge of the wood, where a natural depression formed a very good substitute for a huge shell crater. The Jeffery was first of all taken dowii and an attempt made to bring it
over the steepest portion of the bank. Owing to the rough surface, which at one point pizt the rear wheels in a hollow and raised the front wheels on a huxonivek until. the entire tractor. assumed a dans-erous-looking inclination, it was impossible to get out at this point. The pupils were made to understand why there was failure at this point, while the task was comparatively easy a few :yards further away. The same tests were gone through with a .Latil, which is a considerably more powerful tractor, and was able with very skilled handling and a helpful push from
the men at the most critical moment to pull itself out of the hollow without locked differential and without chains on the road wheels.
Gun Hauling Up Gradients.
Work of an entirely different nature was undertaken when a heavy gun. was placed in a hollow position and instructions given to bring it out over a wooded bank presenting_ an angle of 50 degrees with the horizontal. This, of course, was • a bank down which no sane man would voluntarily attempt to take any vehicle, although one of the officers, who made a speciality of cross-country work, was of the opinion that in a case of life and death there was an even chance of sliding down the bank right side up with an ordinary touring car. It was not worth while risking Government property on an uncalledfor experiment, although some demonstrations of cross-country driving were given of a nature calculated to make the timid man's hair stand on end.
Hauling Heavy Guns Out of Holes.
In order to get the gun out of this difficult position two tractors were brought up, block and tackle fitted, and the two winches set to work simultaneously to haul the heavy piece of artillery out of its hole. Although this class of work has very little in common with motor driving, it is, nevertheless, of a most important nature, and. on the ability of the tractor teams to get their vehicles in the best positions and to fit up their tackle in the best manner depends the success or failure of the operation. During practically the whole of their training period the men are instructed in the best methods of overcoming
exceptionally difficult conditions. The officers do not hesitate to attempt what appear at first sight almost impossible tasks in order to inspire confidence in their men and teach them to think out ways and means suitable for every set of conditions.
"With a Tractor You Can Go -Anywhere."
Addressing them in blunt, soldierly language, after one of these
demonstrations, the lieutena:at • said : "With a tractor you can go anywhere ; get that idea fixed solidly in your heads. Nothing is impossible. Think it out first, then just strike right in and do it. You are going to the Front soon. I do not suppose you want to look like fools when you get there. When you have gotto move a battery, you must show them that you know how to do it. Hustle, my lads. Don't let anybody ever say that you and your tractors failed. You look stupid when you fail, and I don't suppose any one of you wants to pass off as an imbecile."
Which Type of Tractor for Artillery Haulage?
Present conditions make it necessary not only to train private ,soldiem as tractor crews, but also to give instruction to non-commissioned officers. The practical work
in the field is almost the same for the N.C.O.'s as for the men. It is important that the sub-officers be really good drivers, in order to set an example to the men when necessary; but in addition they must have the ability to meet difficulties with rapidity and without hesitation to take advantage of whatever natural and mechanical elements may be in their favour. The N.C.O.'s also attend a special course of lectures on the application of tractors to artillery haulage, and are put as apprentices for a short time in the different French factories manufacturing four-wheeldrive tractors. They are thus sent out with a really good mechanical knowledge of what their vehicles are capable, if not of executing, at any rate of supervising repair work on their vehicles.
Without very special knowledge possessed by few people even on military service, it is difficult to predict which type of tractor will ultimately prevail for artillery haulage. There are three main i types n use : the four-wheel driller with capstan or winch (without this organ the usefulness of the vehicle is.,considerably limited); the caterpillar, and rear-wheel drive tractors, such as the Knox, the F.I.A.T., and the Daimler-Forster.
The Caterpillar's Advantages and Disadvantages.
Under certain conditions the caterpillar with its low weight per unit of area. can travel where other units would fail. It has the disadvantages, however, of being slow and destructive of road surfaces. The French officers appear to be of the opinion that with intelligent handling the four-wheel driver will go anywhere that a caterpillar can venture, and will do more all-round work than any of the other types. Steamers do not appear to be used at all for this special class of haulage.