MOTOR TRACTION IN GERMANY.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 January 1918, Page 5

MOTOR TRACTION IN GERMANY.

j Reports regarding Germany, comj ing through from Switzerland, are to | the effect that there is no petrol shortage for army use, but the lack of rub ber is causing serious A prominent member of the Swiss motor industry, who has had opportunities of travelling in Germany on many occasions since the war, declares that synthetic rubber has been-more or less of a failure. Until America came into the war all kinds of methods were devised to smuggle rubber into Germany, and the attempts were so successful that at least all army staff cars could run on pneumatic tyres. Of late the situation has been much less favourable, no rubber being available for motor trucks, and while officers' staff cars are still running on pneumatic tyres the stock is limited and every possible form of economy is exercised. With wood and steel tyres In place of rubber, it has been necessary to reduce the speed in all cases. Trucks which could be run at 12 miles per hour in the rubber days have been cut down to 10, 8 or even 5 miles per hour. The German army transport service has not been disorganised, but it has been rendered less efficient by reason of the great reduction in speed.