A BRITISH EXHIBITION TOURING FRANCE.
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A Canadian Convoy Consisting of 30 Tractor lorries and Other Vehicles which , Covers Three Miles of Road.
WE REFERRED recently to a mobile exhibition which is now touring the roads ofFrance, making Stops a short duration at different towns en route.
This interesting development originated as a result of a very successful French exhibition which travelled over the railroads of Canada for 65 days in 1921. The arrangements for this first exhibition were commenced in 1919, the cost being covered by the Canadian Government.
The exhibition proved invaluable in demonstrating to the people of Canada the quality and extent of the products of France. The French Government, not to be outdone in the cordiality extended to them in Canada, thereafter invited the Canadian authorities to assist them in the organization of a similar exhibition for France.
Unfortunately the railways in France, have not yet returned to a condition to justify their Use in connection with the scheme; also, the stations would not meet the needs of the large numbers of people who would certainly wish to visit the exhibition. The French Government, therefore, proposed to fit out a convoy consisting of a sufficiently large number of motor vehicles especially suited to the purposes of the exhibition; together with special vehicles for the generation of the electricity required for the electric light, etc., two vehicles equipped as cinemas, and two large passenger vehicles for the Canadian personnel, as well as a number of touring cars for other people connected with, or interested in, the convoy.
The exhibition is already in full swing. The convoy left Le Itisre on July 17th, and proceeded to .Rouen, where it stayed
throe days. It then took the road to Amiens and after a. stop there proceeded to Lille, Cambrai, Rheims, Verdun, Nancy, and Strasbourg, which it. is leav ing to-day. It will then proceed to Vichy, • Lyon, Grenoble, Marseille,
Toulouse; _Bayonne, Bordeaux, Orleans,
Nantes, Le Mans, and will finally arrive at Paris on October 8th.. Halts will be made at many of the smaller towriS between those mentioned, and it is certain that the exhibition will prove of great value-in showing to the French public the products of Canada. : The Renault tractor-lorries used for the exhibition haVe a length,of 6 metres and .a width of 2 nietreS. The trailers are arranged end to end; one side of each trailer is opened, the lower panels falling and forming covers for the wheels, whilst the upper portions lift and are stipported horizontally. When in line the trailers thus form a. kind of commercial street.
• One interesting feature is that the trailer units have auxiliary front wheels which can be lowered when required, so that the trailer can remain adequately supported after the tractor has been dis connected. Both the tractors and their trailers are fitted with pneumatic tyres, twin tyres being fitted to the driving and trailer wheels... .
The otitfit is a remarkable proof of the value of road transport.