NEW MILITARY DEVICE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 152, 21 March 1908, Page 10

NEW MILITARY DEVICE.

ARMY TRACTION ENCINE THAT walks; TO TAKE GUNS INTO ACTION. Tlio military authorities havo been testing nt Aldorshot a .military traction engine of remarkable appearance and still moro-re-markablo powers, it is a gigantic machine, almost grotesquo in shape, invented by a young South African engineer, Mr. Henry George I)e Trafford 'Wright, son of a wollknown Kimbcrley enginner. Tlio v.iluo of the machino to tho Army lies' in its power of traversing tlio roughest ground with ease and safety at high speed, arid in its enormous power' development, which enables it to drag heavy guns into position. Tho final and conclusive tests of Mr. "Wright's engines wero carried out a week ago in tho, Long Valley, Aldersliot, when it performed several .wonderful"feats. It climbed hills at a gradient which would have proved too much for tho ordinary traction engine, finally reaching a position 011 tho crest' in which disaster seemed inevitable. It crossed a deep diitcli five or six feet' in width, and riianpeuvi'od with ease in its own length. , ' In all tho machine _ weighs _ nearly thirty tons. Tho peculiarity of its, appparanco arises from tho high, prow-like stem, resembling a steel lighter or bargo 011 the Thames, surmounted by a business-liko funnel;' its. catorpillar-liko belts / with the thirty-two feet; and its high cab, from which tlio running and-, steering of tlio ©ngiiio aro controlled. ' •

A ride in tho cab is an exciting experience.' There is lively room for two men on tho steel platform, Bft. from tho ground. Oiio •man holds tho starting and stopping levers, the*'other "the steering wheels. ■ Tho monster starts easily, with a purring sound; It is remarkable-' how littlo noise it makes even at'top speed. Over the sand'at' Aldersliot it' ."walks Q-ith''' 'deliberate ease, ' each great foot, IBin. square, pressing downwards upon tho soft soil.

Disregarding the track, Mr.' .'Wright' puts his machine deliberately- at a hill covered with tussocks of grass. The swaying 'motion, backwards and forwards','which has been felt already, • becomes, accentuated. Tho driver .grips his handles moro tightly as his charge steps up tho hill and over tho inequalities of tho ground. ,

At thocrost_a thrilling'moment follows. Half tho hulk is poised in mid-air. Should the crest he very "stoop, , tho ,whole of the monster .may be balanced, on two hind feet instead l of on •' tho ' eight . normally on tho ground; • Then it comos down again, deliberately or swiftly, according to tho '-speedj : -and' begins tto "walk" - down tlio other', side.

■ Tho 1 whole idea camo'to Mr.' :; "Wright ; when he- 'saw'- the unwieldy.: traction engines'-sent out .to 1 South Africa to pull !our heavy guris up 'tho' kopjes. < Any ' number 'of • these 'got stuck arid, wero lost. Beginning to experiment sii years ago t ' Mr. Wright gradually built, his machine. Itcost/ him ~and his father a fortune, and almost overy part lias been through his hands. If the War Offico buys tho monster, it will probably be sent to India or Egypt, and others.will bemado.hore.