THE ORIGIN OF TANKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1919, Page 5

THE ORIGIN OF TANKS.

AWARDS TO THE INVENTORS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Nov. 27. The Royal Commission on awards to inventors has reported regarding the various claims in respect to tanks. The report records that it was primarily due to the receptivity, courage, and driving force of Mr. Churchill that the general idea was put into practice. The report attributes the principal i credit of the designing and production of tanks to Sir William Tr'itton and Major Wilson to whom £15,000 is jointly awarded. Major-General Swinton is awarded £IOOO. The report recognises the. still greater value of his work of advocating the use of tanks, for which a pecuniary award is inappropriate. Another claimant was awarded £ 1000 also two £SOO each. Some claimants were disqualified because their investigations were within the scope of their ! duties—Reuter. I AUSTRALIAN INVENTOR. NO REWARD RECOMMENDED. Received Dec. 2,1.15 a.m. London, Nov. 27. The Tank Commission says that it was Demole's misfortune, not his fault, that his invention was in advance of the times, and consequently unappreciated and put aside, because the occasion for its use had not then arisen. The Commission regrets exxceedingly that it is unable to recommend an award to Demole. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [Demole is an Australian soldier. Ho invented a tank before the war on the lines of that eventually adopted, but the War Office would notdo anything with the invention. Germany heard of it, and wanted to secure it, but he refused to give it to her.]