FIRST "C.M." NEWS FROM THE FRONT (PASSED BY THE CENSOR)— EXCITING WORK WITH THE MECHANICAL TRANSPORT.
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IIIMMINEININENNIE
11111111•••••1111111111• A. S.C. ,
UM Section 11111111111. Co. M.T., Follow Troops,
111••1111111111••••11111MIE
"Just a few lines to let you know how things are progreesing. I cannot give you any names of places as this is not allowed, so I will content myself with a few notes on the vehicles.
" At 1111•111•1111111111111, where many of the vehicles were embarked, dozens of them were condemned for various faults, such as too little ground clearance, and also for mechanical faults such as cracks in cylinders. Ordinary ills were attended to by the fitters. The vehicles were slung into the holds by cranes (as mentioned before), and were then worked into position under their own power, being, of course, carefully tied together to prevent movement when the ship rolled.
'The day following our landing at =MM.U, we proceeded with over 30 vehicles (there are many other columns) to 1111111.1111111M, a distance of approximately 70 miles. During this run only one of the vehicles dropped out owing to pulling badly, so it was sent back. A Johnny Walker' whisky Cornmercer lost its way, and followed another column, with the result that it did not turn up for two or three days. I was sent back on my 3 h.p. Douglas motorcycle to try and find it, but after 20 miles I returned as the column was due to start.
"My work in the column consists of looking after the vehicles and seeing that they do not stray. 11 one breaks down I report to the captain in the leading car ; if the repair required is only slight, such as that required to a broken fan belt, one of the motorcyclists remains behind and the column proceeds ; after it is finished the cyclist reports all well. "The convoy last night proved very exciting ; the vehicles kept up a good speed, in many parts averaging 20 m.p.h. for considerable distances, but having to stop very often in response to the challenges of sentries. At one place each driver was confronted by a revolver., held within a few inches of his face. Imagine the feelings of some of the B-type drivers ! "At 11111•11111•111. a sudden halt was necessitated as a house or houses had fallen right across the road completely blocking it, the result of some explosion or a shell. The drivers and I had to act as navvies and shift bricks and mortar, while a dozen or so lifted up the almost complete front of a cottage and sent it backwards. In a few minutes the road was clear enough to proceed, but the springs had sundry nasty jars. "There are a very large number of Commers and Hallfords here, and three 20 h.p. Austin 2-3-tonners, besides a number of Albions. All are doing very well indeed.
"One very interesting vehicle is a two-cylinder L.T. 16 h.p. Albion, belonging to Skinner and Rook, of Nottingham. This is the only two-cylinder in the columns, and it is usually the leading vehicle, after the officer's private car. Throughout it has kept up i to its work n a wonderful fashion, and has never been left by the others. There was much talk of scrapping it before starting, but the driver's entreaties prevailed (not the actual driver but the one to whom the vehicle was allotted). "Last night I was nearly shot by a sentry. I was making up time on my bike, and could not stop in a hurry, with the result that I was twice challenged with a loaded rifle pointed straight at me. The second hoarse command gave me a nasty jar, but luckily I was able to shout 'friend,' and to pull up before he fired.
"The roads here are simply awful, pave nearly all the way. Several springs have been broken and a swivel axle ; the latter, however, was due to a flaw. "My bike nearly rattled itself and me to pieces ; the engine worked loose in the frame, and altogether repairs and adjustments took me nearly all yesterday. All the machines are now running on petrol.
If this letter is somewhat rambling you must forgive me. I have been out all night with a convoy of fodder and provisions, and am still feeling fagged, though I managed to get two or three hours nap this morning."