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"Seeking Safety." Napier Concert. By "The Extractor."
Only those who have not come in contact with returned M.T., A.S.C., men talk jeeringly of their " eafety " in the back of the fighting front. The subjoined second letter from Mr. B. G. Boultwood strikes me as being most interesting and apropos, throwing new light on this question. One never hears a word about horses these days by the bye,
One thing that is quite misunderstood at home is the duty performed by M.T. men, and there is a tendency to disparage the good work done individually by every M.T. man as occasion demands. Some people have actually said to Me that the M.T.s never see any actual war, and that they join the A.S.C. to keep out of danger. This impression is inaccurate, as a Mechanical Transport column taking ammunition right up to the guns is in a far more exposed condition than a body of men under shelter of the trenches, and those lorries must not be left and the goods have got to be delivered.
It only stands to reason that the Germans shell heavily any section of the roads they knot?' to be the route of supply to certain batteries, even if they have net succeeded in actually locating the battery. Howitzer batteries, such as ours, are obviously very much in advance of the long-range guns, and to serve guns in so advanced a position is, not. a 'picnic. To throw insinuations of the nature to which I refer is to most unjustly condemn a certain type of man who is called upon to keep his nerve and use his mechanical skill under all sorts of emergencies. Our own officers are placed exactly in the same position, and undoubtedly the responsibility resting on an officer in charge of a column is considerable when he knows that his lorries are depended upon to reach a certain place by a certain time.
Then, again, our workshop equipment is wonderful in a way. Absolutely just at the rear of the fighting line we have an organized repair depot entirely mobile and ably to move in its entirety or in sections at almost an hour's notice. Yet any lorry or car can come in, no matter what the nature of repair or damage to be made good, and be put back on the road again in a few hours, -where, in an English factory, it would be a week or fortnight's job.
I' tell you, the organizing of oureM.T. sections throughout France has been reduced to a fine art, and is all the' more to the credit of those who belong to it, mostly men who have never been soldiers before and do not Want to when it is all over. B40 An excellent move is being made by the staff of the Napier Co. to augment the Star and Garter Fund for totally-disabled soldiers and sailors. I take it that the transformed Star and Garter Hotel, at Richmond, now turned into a hostel, is the object of the scheme and a most praiseworthy object too, under the patronage, as it is, of H.M. the Queen and Queen Alexandra.
Well, the Napier people have hit upon the idea to ,give a concert, and this takes place in the large Concert Hall adjoining the Hammersmith Baths, Lime Grove, W., on Friday evening the 19th inst. I am only just in. time to give you the intimation, but if you ring up Mr. A. J. Slinn, at the Napier showrooms, 14, New Burlington Street, W. (8926 Gerrard), he will give particulars as to tickets. It will be principally a, motor trade concert, and many well-known theatrical and concert artistes have promised to assist. Moreover, the entire proceeds will go to the Star and. Garter Fund, all expense being borne by the Napier staff. I shall certainly find my way there myself. To those readers who cannot go, I say—buy tickets, or send money in aid.
011a Podrida.
Colonel Shannessy, of the Midland Rubber Co., Ltd., has been on active service since the outbreak of war and is now leaving for France.
Mr. Handel Booth, who has made quite a Parliamentary reputation. was observed dining a few nights ago at the Motor 'Club, evidently the guest of Mr. Vincent Barningham.
Clyde Heavy Motors, Ltd., whose chassis was named Clydesdale because it was found that a motor named the Clyde was already in existence, and being made at Wishaw, N.B.' is no more. The high cat of freight from the States has much to do with the breaking up of this company.
Mr. J. C. Akerman, whom I knew in the early days of this journal, in connection with the Hopkinson solid tire, and later controlling the Inter-Freight Exchange, has now taken up a very responsible post on which I heartily congratulate him. He is the advertising manager of "The Times" newspaper.
Me. H. G. Norris, formerly with Alldays and Onions, and at present with Whiting, Ltd., is looking for a fresh position. He claims a good record with Whiting's, but, owing to enormous transport difficulties, and his present territory being small, it is desirableethat a change be made. His private address is Horsmonden, Kent. Ball-bearing Stockists.
Lawrence Norris and Co. Imperial Chambers, Kingsway, ACC., announce that they are now stocking ball bearings in most of the popular sizes. They also offer to repair ball bearings, and we note that, in addition, they have in stock a considerable range of electric hand drills. The first repair order from any customer will be considered as a sample one, and executed free of charge. The Zenith Booklet.
Apropos increasing interest in the Zenith carburetter, not only by reason of the excellent results yielded when it is used for petrol alone, but because of the increasing demand for carburetters -which are capable of dealing with two fuels simultaneously, we recommend our readers to apply to the Zenith Carburetter Co., Ltd., of 40-42, Newman Street, London, W., for a copy of its latest booklet. Apart from its reference value as a price liSt, it gives hints. Farm Tractor Booklet.
The Hyatt Roller Bearing Co., of Chicago, Illinois, has just published a very comphate directory of farm tractois entitled "Hyatt Year Book of 1916 fractors."
At the present time, when interest in agricultural mechanicallypropelled machinery is so intense, such a list cannot fail to be of special interest. Each machine is illustrated and a brief specification is included. Information as to power, drawbar pull, etc., is furnished. Copies of the booklet may be had for the asking.