MOTOR AND CYCLE

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1915, Page 11 (Supplement)

MOTOR AND CYCLE

NEWS AND NOTES. Figures published by the Ford Company of America show that for the year ending July 31, 1915. SOS,'2l,') ears were built anil sold. Calculating on 300 working day 3 for the year, this gives an average daily output of 1027 cars. During the past twelve years the total Fords sold numbered 573.070. The output in 1913-14 was 1708 (five a day), as against the present huge figures.

That petrol plays an important part in the European war is >eileeted in the shipments oi' this motor fu"l f:'om America. For the year ending June 3!l, 19i v, Prance, imported 32,718.000 Kai'ons. against 3,49-1,000 in 14)13 and UV;o3.'>on in 1914. England purchased 0.1)00,001 gallons in 1913, 20,800,000 in 1911, and 34,634,000 for the year ending last June. Italy nearly trebled lier petrol : mports, Becuring in 1915 9,160,000 gallons. England's command of the seas in this dirftion alone has been of tremendous \uuio to the Allies.

A very fine long-distance motor-cyi i-' ride has been established in America by E. O. Baker, holder of the motorcycle trans-continental record fnm San Francisco to New York, On occasion Baker tackled the rough coastal trip from Canada to Mexico, and sikceeded in negotiating the 1535% miles in 3 days 9 hours 15min. This gives a daily average of *47.) milts —a remarkable achievement when the mountainous nature of the country ij taken into consideration.

The Victorian Motor Cycle Oiub's reliability trial from Melbourne to Mary~ villc and back was marred by wet and wintry weather. Out of an ent'y of 40, only 22 motor-cyclists braved the wet 126 miles trip into the mountains. Notwithstanding the inclement condition, some very fine performances were registered, particularly in the side-car section, nine outfits starting and seven completing the course. The official results of the test have not yet been made publie, but the following finished in time:— Side-cars: W. T. Cottman (4 8.5.A.), ■H. J. Garnham (6 Ariel), W. C. Burke (7 Clyno), S. Nunan (7 Excelsior), T. 'P. Rogers (6 A.J.S.), S. Jenkins (6 J.A.P.). Over 000 cb.: W. J. Ousley (7 Indian). R„ Finlay (7 Excelsior), the only starters. Under 600 c.e.: J. Booth (S 1 / 2 Indian), .T. flunn (2 l / z Indian), E. Tyler (4 Triumph)j H. Godfrey (4'/ a twin 'Precision) .

Pew motorists in this part of the world realise what a set-back the English motor industry is setting owing to the war. ft is not loss of profits that is the trouble, for most of them are engaged on munitions work, but the loss of their goodwill and trade connection during the war. There is over £50,000,000 in tlie British motor industry, which employs over 300,000 skilled workers. As one large English manufacturer puts it, "This huge industry is now faced with extinction or protection, for greedily aggressive neutral competition has taken advantage of the situation to the full." There is on the part of many motorists lack of appreciation of what loyalty to the British motor trade means at the present time. Coming nearer home, the same applies to the Australian-made motor tyre. It cannot be too strongly brought home to every motorist that every pound that goes out of this country for imported goods weakens our resources. Money is going to win the war, and the recent solemij appeal by the Chancellor of the Exchequer against letting a single sovereign go out of the Empire which can possibly be kept within its borders should be taken to heart by all Australasian motorists. Sending your money into other lands is only helping to lessen England's ability to hold her dominating position in the financial world.

C. A. Doerflinger, a well-known Swiss racing cyclist, who has figured prominently in several long-distance American races, lias got himself into trouble with the German military authorities. Doerflinger has been arrested, it is reported from Switzerland, and condemned to death as a spy. An account of this rider's experiences states that soon after the war began, Doerflnger travelled

through Alsace and Baden as a representative of a business house. He received an anonymous letter asking him to meet a stranger at Montreux, Switzerland. It is said this man engaged him to supply military information. Through his acquaintance with a German, now an aviator, who had conducted a factory at Frieburg at which military aeroplanes were manufactured, Doerflinger was able to take a trip in a war plane. All he learned he is alleged to have communicated to a foreign agent, being heavily paid for the information he gave. Also, it is averred lie made arrangements with the wives of German soldiers at the front to secure military information through these women, for which they were paid. Jt was one of these who denounced Doerflinger. When it was necessary to put anything into writing lie is said to have made use of the inside band of liis collar. Doerflinger, who was condemned to death by a court-martial, has appealed to a higher military court, where his case is pending. The Swiss Government has intervened with a request for clemency.

For the first time in the history uf the motor-ear, it lias been demonstrated that a car can be started from a distance by means o{ the wireless telegraph. This was proved recently in America, where an Overland was started every five minutes by a wireless spark from the Overland headquarters in Indianopolis, five miles away. A complete wireless outfit, consisting of motor generator, transformers, relays and other paraphernalia was installed in the show windows of the Indianopolis depot. This was connected with an aerial on the roof of the building, and by stepping the alternating current up from 110 volts to 16,000 volts the apparatus made it possible to send messages 300 miles. The car was fitted up with a receiving apparatus and the necessary automatic switches and relays for throwing on and off the electric current of the starter and magneto. An automatic switch was regulated so as to allow the car to run for forty-five seconds, after which the magneto was cut off. The operation of starting the car was repeated at fiveminute intervals. One of the most interesting features of the expe iment was the fact that the entire operation of starting the car was accomplished without the aid of a human hand. A time switch, installed in connection with the wireless outfit in the city, controlled the entire operation. From the time the car was first put into operation, by touching a key at the sending station, until the last day of the experiment, th» starting and stopping of the car vu taken care of automatically