FRENCH W.O. TRIALS STOPPED.*
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By order of the War Office the French military competition for subsidy-type lorries has been stopped, the various vehicles have been sent back to their feeti,ries, and the officers and men ordered to join their respective regiments. This drastic move was not at all surprising ; it had been reported fur several days tied the motor trucks would be mobilized, and although this step was not actually taken. the stoppage of the competition practically put the vehicles at the full disposition of the army authurities. Although an official announcement has notbeen made, it is probable that all the vehicles which remained in the Trials at the time they were brought to a close a ill he recognized as fit for the army subsidy.
Paris Motorbuses as Meat Vans.
In view of the possibility of war, a. careful census is being taken of the motor lorries in the various fae.teries which would first be called up for service. The French military law gives the authorities power to earl mmii practically every motor vehicle in the eountrv ; bet this power is not used arbitrarily. Ths first vehis cies to be required for active service would he the. subsidized types in the hands of private owners, ninny of where have already received notifmatien to hold theineelves in readiness. A large number if the Paris omnibuses would receive an early call, to be used principally as meat vans. At the same time mania feeturers would have to contribute from I heir stocks.
French Motor Works Close.
Atthe present moment, with war only a grim possihlity, a revolutionary change has taken place in
French motor factories. Output has been reduced to a minimum, and hundreds of men have been paid off. Should mobilization orders be sent out, probably three-quarters of the French motor factories would close their works. in one particular factory, and this appears to be a typical case, the whole of the heads of departments were available for service within the first week. The chief engineer would be required to drive a motor lorry ; the works manager would receive the same call, both of them having to report within 24 hours. Another departmental head was required for service in a frontier fort, and every foreman had his allotted place in the army. Under such circumstances the works would obviously have to be closed, even if sufficient workmen had been left after the military call.
Paris Buses Employed by Police.
The Paris police. have found :i new use for motorbuses. In connection with the political tension bands of demonstrators were moving along the boulevards, coming in contact with parties holding opposite views, and leaving a train of 'broken bottles, chairs, and tables behind them. It was difficult for the police to come into contact with these rapidly moving bodies of rowdies until an officer conceived the idea of making
use of a motorbus. hailing a passing vehicle, he turned mit the passengers, filled it with policemen, and told the driver to make for the unruly element. When the motorbus was in the heart of the crowd, the policemen quickly stepped out, arrested the surprised ringleaders, hurried them away to the nearest station, and in a few minutes were off for another and similar capture.