ORIGIN OF THE "TANK."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 266, 13 April 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

ORIGIN OF THE "TANK."

npo satisfy *ui inquisitive public, says -*- a writer in the Weekly Scotsman, it was officially but somewhat vaguely announced that "tho design and construction" of the first "Tanks" were duo to "officers working unler tho Admiralty." Without seeking to detract from tho meritorious achievement of the ingenious naval officers, it may be pointed out that the idea of the ''Tank" as a weapon of warfare >was present to the inventive mind of John Napier of Mercinston three hundred years ago. . Napier is usually and justly remembered as the originator of thoso marvellous logarithmic tables which give an impulse to all the sciences depending for their progress on exact computation. He, however, profitably employed his brains in other directions. If Napier had been asked to pronounce on tho vexed question as to whether tho pon is mightier than the sword, he would probably bare said that both wero equally necessary. At all events ho acted on this assumption, for, besides writing disputatious books to confound tho enemies of lus religion and country, ho employed his talents in devising deadlier instruments of destruction.

NAPIER'S "SECRET INVENTIONS."

Towards tho close of the sixteenth century the Scottish people were in great terror. A Spanish invasion was believed to be imminent, and " Wappinschawes" for tho universal practice cJ arms were everywhere assembled by tho express order of Government. Napier, liko the rest of his countrymen, was deeply concerned at the prospect of a Catholic invasion, and busied himself with tho construction of weapons for tho annihilation of the enemy. Remarkable evidence "pi tins is afforded by a document which tho laird of Merehiston forwarded in 1596 to Anthony Bacon, elder brother of Franc's Bacon, entitled,. "Secret Inventions, profitable and" necessary in these Days for Defence of this Island, and withstanding of Strangers, Enemies of God's Truth and Religion." Tho manuscript, to which Napier's signature is appended, is now preserved in tho Bacon Collection in Lambetn Palace. It is endorsed, "Mr. Steward, secretes iuventiones de la guerre le mois do Juillet, 1536." Who "Mr. Steward" was cannot now be pre:iisely determined, but it is plausibly conjectured that ho ,wn<s tho ambassador of James VI. to England, and that he had brought the result of Napier's inventive genius under the notice- of the English Government, which was also much perturbed by tho thought of a Spanish invasion. Bo that as it may, there can bo no doubt that Napier framed his propolis with .reference to the whole island, for he'specifically says so.

TESTIMONY

A SIXTEENTH CENTURY "TANK." In tho document sent to Anthony Bacon four inventions are sketched which, "'besides devises (devices) of hay ling under the water (had Napier, 0110 wonders, a glimniering of the submarine as well?) with divers other dovises and stratagems for harnning of the enemyes," Napior, "by tho graco of God and worko of expert craftesmen," hoped to perform. Ho sketches first di all two varieties of burning mirrors—ono similar to that of Arclumedes for setting fire to ships, and the other for producing the same effects by a material fire. But what most concerns us hero is Napier's doscnipt-km of a weapon of warfare which, m its main esesntials, corresponds to the "Tank"' that so frightened tho Germans on tho Western Front last autumn. The machine, wh'ch the laird of Merchistou thought would turn to flight tho armies of tho aliens, was to lie "a round chariot of mettle made of tho prooi'e of dooblo muskett, which motion shall bo by those that be within the same, more oasie, more light, and more spced--10 by much than so nianie armed men would be otherwayes. Tho use hereof as woll, in moving, serveth to breako the array of the enemies battle and to make passage, as also m staying and abiding within the enemies battle, it serveth to destroy tho environed enemy by continual! charge and shott or harquobush through small hoallos; the enemie in tho meantime being abased and altogether uiicertauie what defence or pursuit to uso against a. movmg mouth of mettle."

In modern phraseology, Napier conceived tho idoa of a metal chariot, double musket proof, tho motion of whidli was controlled from within and from which shot was discharged through small holes. A. scientific exi>osition of the mechanism of the "Tank" cannot, for obvious reasons, bo given at present, but, so far as the hvildan population is acquainted with it, the conclus'on seems to bo warranted that tho utility of tho monster fighting machine was fully appreciated three centuries ago by John Napier of Merchiston. Further, could any words more realistically doscrl'bo the (helplessness of the Germans when the "Tanks" first appeared than those employed by Napier in relating

•vlu.in I had not swii before, Cel'nc, a liuxom girl oj' about twenty, with sallow (hooks and dun liair drawn tightly hark.

She, too, came forward intently; and I regretted my denouement.

For a moment she stood with her hands to her throat, murmuring "Tranohoes, tranehees," and staring at me, as though I had caused this new coin-plication. I felt her impeachment ami unshod myself away. It was a tense moment for us all, and even Durkis had the gneo t.v look abashed. Celnio was dominating t.ho stage nnd we had' to wait, her tfcnc. Then suddenly she cried, "Oh, ci lie tristo guerre," and llirew herself into the arms of • Jac-.j-int, "Qiuitnl memo, Durk.n, les lemmes pasM-nt. C'c'si la Franco qui doit vivre :> touiours." It was the only speech that Madame Virol ever made, but .t was a good one. And Durkini aswered, " Vivo La I r.Mi-o!"

SUGGESTED THREE CENTURIES AGO BY NAPIER OF MERCHISTON.

SIR THOMAS I'RQUHARTS

tho contemplated effect upon the enemy when confronted by his chariot of metal?

Whether Napier ever gavo practical demonstration of tho usefulness in warfaro of his metiil chariot cannot be positively stated, but there is the authority of tho fantastic knight of Cromarty, Sir Thomas Urquhart, fur saying that Napier made trial of another of his warlike inventions. This was "a piece of artillery, which schoott, passeth not linallio through the eneniie, destroying onlio thoso that stand on the random thereof, and fra them forth flying TGly, as uteris do; but passeth superficially, ranging abroda within tho whole appointed place till it hath executed his whole strength, by destroying those thnti be w/thin the Maundies of the said place. The uso hereof not onlio sorveth greatlie against the amue of tlie enemy on land, but alsoo by sea it sorveth to destroy and cut downe, and one shotto the whole mastes and tackling of so many shippes as be within tho appointed l>ou::dos, as well abried as in large, so long as any strength at all rem.ayneth." It therefore seems that Napier, whoso logarithmic tables were "tho greatest l;oon genius could bestow upon a mantimo Empire," also aspired by this piece of artillery to the distinction of being a destroyer of fleets.

In a tract peniphrastically entitled "Tho Discovery of a most exquisite Jewel, more precious than diamonds inchased in gold," Sir Thomas Urquhart, after classifying Napier and Crichton of E'liock as pro-eminent in their ago for "abilities of the mind in matter df practical inventions useful for men of industry," dilates upon the laird of Merchiston's "almost incomprehensible device, wh'oh J>eing in the mouths of the most of Scotland, and yet unknown to any that ever was in the world but himself, deserveth very well to be taken notice of." Urquhart descriltes Napier's ordnance as "an engine .. . which, by virtue.of some secret springs, inward resorts, with other implements and materials fit for the purpose, inclosed within tho 'lwwels thereof, had in power , . . to clear a field of four mile/ circumference of all tho living creatures exceeding a foot in height, that should be found thereon, how near soever they might bo to one another; by which means ho made it anoear that ho was able, with the help of th;s mao'.ine alone, to kill thirty thousand Turks, without the hazard of ono Christian. Of this, it is sr.id, that (upon a wager) he gave prccL* upon a largo plain in Scotland, to tho destruction of a great many herds of cattlo and flocks of sheep, whereof some were distant from the other half-a-milo on all sides, and some a whole m'le."

NAPIER AND WARLIKE INVENTIONS.

It is notwuithy tnat it was from no wish to add lustre to his renown as an inventor that Napier exerted himself in tho devising of more efficient weapons of war/are. Ho preferred the "weak piping time of peace," but when tho "hard and (boisterous tongue of war" was heard in a good cause, <ho patriotically dedicated his talents to the overthrow of the enemy. So far, indeed, was Napier from seeking fame as an inventor of warlike contrivances, that ho desiired that h's inventions should bo kept secret. He was particularly averse to the destruction of humnn life, and deplored tho need of deadlier instruments of warfare. Uruquhart tails us that when requested by a "professed friend" to "reveal unto him the manner of the contrivance of bo ingenious a mystery" (tho metal chariot), Napier replied:—"That for tho rudn and overthrow of men, thero were too man;, devices already framed, which if he could make to bo fewer, ho would with all lis might endeavour to do; and that, therefore, seeing the malice and rancour rooted in the heart of mankind will not si ffer them t;> diminish by any new conceit of his, the number of them nhould never be increased." Napier's declaration is a trifle puzzling, but probably what he meruit was that his warlike inventions should lie kept secret unless necessity compe'led their use.

It,Js doubtful whether any of tho proposals contained in the document sent to Anthony Bacon were ever advanced beyond the theoretic stage. Nevertheless, !t is a significant fact that iin an age when science was still unborn, Napier, with the limited means at his disposal, should have furnished specifications of n fighting n:a hine, the soundness of the general ide: of which is being demonstrated to-day in the greate-'t war in history. Wo may owe tho design and construction of tho "Tank'' to officers working under tho Admiralty, but it ought not to be forgotten that the main features of this military machine were sketched three hundred years ago by the laird of Merehston. W. F. G.

POTATO BREAD. potato bread is not alone a ration for the war-stricken people., hut aJs> a very [/easing and nourishing food which r.ny hou-owifo can prepare by lining a recipe mad ■ up I y the An or i at Department of Agriculture. It calls for -Sib. < f boiled and mashed p.otatoes and 2l!h. of ttho.it Hour. Broad made with tliu-t materials Jus a rich brown crust, an ap|>ot:.->iig, odour, a very agreeable taste, and will keep Irish several day- longer than ordinary bread. For communities which have an abundant potato crop it is recommended hoeauw it can ho mado at a reduced erst, hut even whe-o the price of pnt.itee.-i does not make this kind of bread less expensive, it .will ho found a j,leas ; n;j change 'n the family diet.