WAR TANKS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1932, Page 6

WAR TANKS

A TARDY REALISATION, .(' f “ID'NDDN, rt 'Seplemhei" ; 29. Secrets of the struggle in Britain to secure the adoption of tanks during the War are disclosed by Major-Genei'al 'SirvE/ Swinton, the real originator of the tanks, in his book. General iSwinton recalls that, despite the trench warfare deadlock and the Obvious 'imperativeness' o'f discovering a method of countering the deadly German. machine-guns to enable a victorious advance, the military authorities unanimously condemned the “futility” of his. suggestion. Loi'd Kitchener called the tank “a pretty, mechanical toy,/’ leading the opposition. Headquarters in France ridiculed the idea. Even when General Swinton secured the construction of a fair number of tanks, the “wicked uncles,” as General Swinton characterises the staff, consistently misused the new weapon. The secret was. revealed by the utilisation of 32 tanks for a petty operation during the, Battle of the Somme, although General Swinton u<ged the emploment of huge numbers ns as tremendous surprise. ' General Swinton, criticising the staff, declares that, “Despite the example of the Germans’ stupenduous mistake in releasing gas over a short .sector we, 16 months later, with our eyes open, made a similar error, and discounted a possible future great coup for'tKe slender prospect of immediate gain.” Ultimately, after the tank raid at Cambrai in 1917, the authorities realised the possibilities of a mass attack by tanks. They utilised more than 800 in the push on August 8 1918, which Ludendoi'ff called “Germany's black day.” General Zwehl later wrote : “The Germans were beaten, not by. Foeh, but by ‘Genera] Tank,” in conjunction with the American reinforcements.” General Swinton expresses doubt whether , the importance of the tank is yet realised in the highest British military circles.