EARLY "TANKS"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2964, 30 December 1916, Page 8

EARLY "TANKS"

AN INVENTION OF 1834. The idea of the tanks, which have been doing- such good work on the Western front, i*. not new. As far back as--1854 a Mr.- James Cowon patented "a land and sea locomotive steam ram and battery.-" It was a good deal like tho present "land cruisers," except that it was operated by 3teani and ran on ordinary wheels. It was heavily armoured, carried guns fore and. aft, and was provided with scythes after tho manner of the ancient war chariots. The inventor claimed that his machine would annihilate, cavalry and infantry, and crush batteries of artillery. He submitted-it to Lord Palmerston.rhen British Prime Minister, and bis colleagues, "some of whom, as well as himself; highly approved of it, and was by them referred to a select committee of the most experienced veterans of the. age—supposed to be, but in reality worked-o'ut old women and senile old tabbies at Woolwich." Mr; Coven, recorded that he "caused the machine, models, plans, etc., to be conveyed to Woolwich at hia owii expense," but it was turned down, and naturally he was very angry.