THE TANKS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 252, 18 July 1919, Page 12

THE TANKS

i &. No record of the great conflict would be complete without "a reference to the part played by the tanks in the great Allied offensive operations, which culminated in the collapse of the German military menace. They made their first appearance in the battle of the Somme, whero their performances furnished the war correspondents with nmplo scope for descriptive and, in the early stages, somo highly imaginative writing. The tank was a military adaptation of the, caterpillar motor tractor, heavily armoured,- carrying its road along with it in the form of a pair of endless belts, and able by its

peculiar construction to travel over irregularities of ground which defied tho ordinary motor. The early types were rather slow and unwieldy, thong" they undoubtedly did excellent work in supporting the infantry advances and terrifying the Germans, to whom 'they were a surprise. The later types, known as tho ("whippets," were, very muHlv faster, more mobile, and their nso in'. 'reat numbers was a powerful factor \ < determining the end of the struggle. «Their initial 'big perfoririw.ca in force was at the,first battle of CV|7s<ni and later on tactics were evolved ivaich rendered their regular employment of great advantage. The enemy, of course, countered with tanks of his own, but 'he was never able at any stage to threaten the ascendancy of tha Allies in this department of warfare.