MOTORING NOTES.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 3, 1 April 1920, Page 14

MOTORING NOTES.

A MOTOR-CYCLE WITH A HISTORY. When the Expeditionary Force left New Zealand in 1914, the establishment of certain units included a number of Douglas motor-cycles, all of which did splend^ work in the various theatres of the vc.s One of these cycles has been returned tc Zealand and bears unmistakable evidence of the. liard usage to which it was subjected while "doing its hit" at the front. Its history is not a little interesting. This cycle was used extensively for dispatch work in Egypt and was subjected to aevere tests negotiating the sandy deserts in a burning Egyptiau sun. The adventure of tlrls motor-cycle did not end there, however, and when the N.Z.E.F. left to take part in the Galiipoli campaign, by some means or another, tha Douglas was put on board a transport __ ani arrived with the rest of the Force ac the historic Peninsula, It was found impossible to use the cycle on the Peninsula, and it looked as if it had come to an untimely end, It lay on the beach for weeks, exposed .jx) all sorts of weather and became well rusted up. Some thoughtful person, however, shipped it back to Egypt by a returning transport, where the mechanics at tlie New Zealand Motor Transport depot got to work, overhauled it thoroughly and soon had it on the road. It remained doing good work until the New Zealand Division left for France when it was appropriated by one of the Battaliong for service in France. The war establishment of an infantry battalion does not include a motor-cycle, and it was only by a process of "wrangling" that it was saffely landed in France. It was ridden from Marseilles right through France, ultimately reaching Armentieres, tbe first sector occupied by the Division. Here it did great work and only those who are familiar with the cobble roads of Northern France can appreciate the strain to which it was subjected. How the rider secured his petrol, tyres, etc., for this "surplus establishment" cycle is a matter that does not court too much enquiry. All went well until the Division reached the Somme in 1916 when the "heads" found out that a certain battalion had a motor-cycle to which it was rot entitled— thus infringing strict arrny regulations regarding motor vehicles-— an .1 a hard-hearted Assistant Adjutant Quartermaster General ordered it to be evacuated to England. But the Y.M.C.A. representative with the Division heard about this cycle and ag he was in urgent need of motor transport, airangemeois wer? made to purchase it. While the application for a permit- to Tetain the cycle was being made, it was used by this representative, who found ifc extremely useful, notwithstanding the terrible mud of the Somme roads. But troublous days were ahead, for when the most important gentleman at General Headquarterg, the Adjutant General, heard about this surreptitious cycle, he was very wrathful and ordered its immedate evacuation. It eventually reached Sling Camp minus many parts, and it looked as if its days were numbered. The mechanics got to work however, and soon it was on the road again, and strange to say could beat anything on the Plain for speed. It remained in Sling until a few months ago, when it was pocked up and returned to New Zealand. As it now stands the old Douglas is very much of a wreck and is now only of a value as a souvenir. It has had a great war record, however, and furnishes strikmg testimony of what a Douglas machine i3 capable. At present the cycle is on view in Messrs J. O. Shortland and Co's. shop, Cuba street Wellington. SILENT SUCCESS. The man who does what "can't be done," And does it without any talking; T,s the chap who rides in his new model car, While the talker just goes on walking. A lone motor-cyclist, hot, goggled, dusty and hatless, stopped at a wayside inu for refreshments and ordered doughnuts and iced tea. "Two washers for a r,nt!" cried the waiter on his way to the kitchen for the tea. POINTERS FOR WISE DRIYERS. Tiro Halifax Automobile Association recently sent out a bulletin thafc contains some very good "Safety First" advice under the caption, "Safety First and Always." It runs aa follows: — "Drive as if every other driver was a born idiot. "Drive as if all children and most pedestrians were bent on suicide beneatk your wheels. "Drive as if every hill had a chasra at the bottom. "Drive as if every curve was a highJ^ayman, a Bengal tiger and a, stone wall.