MOTOR AND CYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 133, 29 October 1914, Page 7

MOTOR AND CYCLE.

When the history of the war, from England's side, is written, the importance and values of the duties assigned to and accomplished by motor vehicles) will show in the clearest manner possible tn«t motor traction has simplified at least one of the most tangled problems of the strategist—the mobilisation and transport of men and material. Its first chapter will deal with the manner in which the English expeditionary corps—admitted the greatest, as it is the finest, army ever launched from the shores of that country in one operation—Avas landed in France with a fleet of fast mo-tor-cars for general and 1 staff officers, hundreds of motor-cycles for scouting and despatch carrying, a park of motorlorries and motor-vans, running well up to a thousand vehicles, and including motor-ambulances, special aeroplane transport, wireless signalling outfits, and repair shops for all men. Whether or not the ruohilisation in such a short space of time of such an army could have been accomplished had the motor-car been absent fre/m the scheme is idle to conjecture (writes a well-known English motorist), but surely its presence has enabled the transport to he done with a smoothness and celerity that may have the most vital hearing on the campaign,

Time is of such importance, particularly in the opening stages of a war, that it may well be that the appearance of a British army in the fighting line two hundred miles from its shores inside a fortnight of the official rupture of friendly relations will prove a decisive and deciding actor. But invaluable as has been the assistance of the motor vehicle in this, we look to even more important effects when our army is in actual grips, and the tide of war ebbs and flows—the collection and maintenance of supplies of food and material from bases far in the rear. No matter how long the campaign or how difficult the country covered by the troops, we can maintain sucli a motor supply corps as must make the British the most notable and best fed and tended army that has ever operated in war. The mo'tor resources of France are second only to our own, and so the great difficulty of the strategist in war —tlit! maintenance of prompt supplies—cannot hamper the Allied armies.

in this, we look to even more important effects when our army is in actual grips, and the tide of war ebbs and flows—the collection and maintenance of supplies of food and material from bases far in the rear. No matter how long the campaign or how difficult the country covered by the troops, we can maintain such a motor supply corps as must make the British the most notable and best fed and tended army that has ever operated in war. The mo'tor resources of France are second only to our own, and so the great difficulty of the strategist in war —the maintenance of prompt supplies—cannot hamper the Allied armies. The eighth annual 100 miles Victonian Cycle Traders' Road Race was decided' last week, over a. triangular course embracing North Essendon, Lancefield,Woodend, and back to starting point. Tne winner was H. C. Clark, who was in receipt of 32 minutes' start, and negotiated the "century" in shrs. 31min. 41sec; L. Thompson (27min.) was second and J. Shepherd (32min.) third. The fastest time was recorded by A. McDonnell (5 min.) in ohr. Train. 37sec. He put up a fine performance by finishing up sixth. The field was a good one, the recently returned Australian team from France, comprising D. Kirkham, I. R. Munro, C. Snell and G. W. Bell, all competing from the scratch mark, but without success, which was hardly to be expected after their recent return from England. Kirkham had a bad fall, damaging his machine. A big field of seventy started, out of which some 38 riders finished within the time limit of G'/ a hours. The event, which since the withdrawal of the Warrnambool, is now the leading Victorian road race, was in every way a success. 8 A well-known American racing motorist, E. Tetzlaff, recently established a new straight-away half-mile living start motor-car record by covering SSO yards in 12 3-5.30 C., which is equal to a speed of 142.S miles per hour. TetzlafPs performance was accomplished on a 3uu-n.p. car on the Sadduro salt beds in Utah. The track record ror this distance is 14 seconds, standing to thetcreilit of V. Hemery at Brooklands in- November, 1909.

) A 48-hours' trains' bicycle race is ■<> bo held in Sydney under the auspices of the League of New South Wales Win e • ■ men at the end of the year. The r-ee [ is to be restricted to 12 teams of two riders each, and wi!l be continuous on ! the lines of the six days' races. The event will start on New Year's Eve, eoneluding two days later. The uneven wearing of motor-car tyres is a subject of great interest to the motorist, who often finds that exactly similar tyres give vastly different mileages. We have seen it suggested that this ig always due to some special reason, and it is urged that the tyres on the left-hand side will wear quicker than on the right, because the latter run on the centre of the road, which is smoothest, whereas the ctiiir- run wnerally on the left-hand side, but ow : rrr to the camber are lower than the off-side Ivres, ' and consequently exposed to more work. , This undoubtedly is so to a considerable extent. The same mav be said or a . badly-adjusted brake, whic. - . throws inns!, of .the strain on one tyre, or of wheels being out of alignment. These sources > of wear have a good deal to sav to the question, but apart from them altogether, ) there is undoubtedly sometimes an enormous difference between the life of tyres made and put in use at the same period. In fact, if the matter were investigated, - we should be greatly surprised if it were not found that in some cases the tyre on the near side of the car surpassed in its length of life an apparently similar tyre on the off-side. The matter is certainly of great interest, and would bear scientific investigation.

One important bearing the war will have on motor-car parts is tlic future supply of magnetos. In the past, ninetcnths of tlic magnetos used on British cars have licen of German manufacture. Already the Society of English Motor Jfiimiacturers lias appointed a committee to enquire into the question, and it is certain that it will not be long before England not only supplies its own requirements in this direction, hut caters (or supplies required in other parts of the world.

A French cyclist writes that bicycles are playing an important part in the French army. In addition to the regular corps, provided witli the regulation army folding bicycle, the military authorities have equipped thousands of men with ordinary bicycles. In the Eastern frontier towns every available bicycle was requisitioned. In Paris the authorities bought up all the available stock. During the height of the mobilisation 301)0 bicycles were delivered, by one firm in three days. When stocks are seized the proprietor is given a credit note on the Treasury, payable after the war, the value of the machines being decided according to a, tariff drawn up in time of peace. In many cases, particularly in the Eastern towns, the outbreak of war has enabled agents to clear out their whole stock in one day, and although they do not obtain cash payment, they go away with the satisfaction of bavin™ nothing to lose if the town should be invaded by the. enemy; Despite the war, the Olympia Motor Show will be held in England from NoTombeT 23 to 28. This exposition is the greatest of its kind in the world.

COUGH MTXTUEJ3 FACTS. 'JOW TO MAKE A GOOD REMEDY AT HOME. SATES AT LEAST 9/-. By a Qualified Chemist. Everybody knows that a good cough and cold remedy consists of two main ■actions. The first section is the undiluted medicinal ingredients, or " essence" ami the second is, of course, the necessary water and sweetening. The preparation of the medicinal ingredients requires trained knowledge, but the water and sweetening can be added in the kitchen just as easily as in "actory. And more,you save a-!ot of money by ;ing so. Now, prove these facts by trying this '.can's Essence recipe. Into a jug put ■ur tablespnonfuls of sugar, three of treacle, two of vinegar and a hii'tru breakfast-cupful of warm water. Stir till dissolved,' pour into a big bottle, add one bottle of lieaii's Essence, and' shake all together. There is no trouble, bother, or fuss of any kind. Simply ;\ pint of the finest cough and cold remedy you can possibly obtain. A few drops to a child, or a spoonful to an adult, gives prompt and wonderful relief. It is pleasant to take, lasts a long time and never spoils. It eases tickling coughs, soothes sore throats, and removes sticky phlegm in a way Unit surprises folks, ft is a handy and genuine remedy for hoarseness, croup, bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough, and the usual 'liroat and lung troubles. Hean's Essence is now sold by most Aemists and stores, or post free on •eceipt of price, 2/-, from G. W. Hean, flamily Chemist, Wanganai. Wherever you buy, be sure you get Wean's, as no other will do. 21