New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-03
conditions under which the regulations must be
enforced would seem to be so essential
AN ARMORED TRACTION TRAIN
SUCCESSFUL TEST OF NOVEL. ENGLISH
INVENTION
From The London Telegraph.

traction engine in modern warfare the South
African campaign has made pretty familiar.
But combination of the two things in the
shape OF an 2rmored traction siege train is a
novelty At Leeds yesterday the official trial
of the first Of these trains took place and need
less to say, the experiment was watched with
Keen interest by representatives of the War
Once, which is hoping to be able to despatch
to the TransVaal before hostilities are ended at
/ least one example of this latest engine of war
From the works of Messrs. FoWlt~ q Co there
| set out two armored road locomotives the first
OF which, by reason of the vehicles and guns
which followed in its wake. was the principal
OBJECT of popular notice. Attached to II were
three armOred wagons, and following them were
two 6-inch breechloading howitzers from Wool
wen Arsenal. travelling on their gun carriages
Altogether there weight of between
thirty and forty tons behind the khaki-coIored
locomotive. which of itself scales upward of
! twenty tons. The idea of this heavy train
careering gayly over hill and dale seemed pre-
posterous although it made excellent progress
over the smooth surface of the Yorkshire roads
I uoihS on occasion as much as seven miles an
hour The second locomotive drew solitary
wagon behind it. but in all essential points il was
Identical with the first. In both cases the vital
parts of the engine protected with armor-
Piate-no easy task it may be supposed. if free
manipulation Is to be secured to driver and
SteerSman In time of hOStitieS those who
control the locomotive will necessarily have but
UNITED opportunity for taking observations
Dut by a clever arrangement of mirrors such
views of the course the peep holes afford will
be augmented. All parts of the engine ex-
cept the road wheels are protected from rifle
hre, while its water tanks sufficient for a
run OF from ten to fifteen miles, according to
load and conditions of road The driving wheel
is as much seven feet in diameter with a
width of two feet. the section strips being pro-
Vided with a view of giving better grip of the
surface: Another and very important point is
the spring gear also fitted to the wagons which
enables a comparatively high speed to be at
tanned without risk of damage
While it cannot be pretended that conveyance
IN an armored road wagon represents the acme
or luxurious travelling, yet it must re confessed
that as means of protection against snipers
these vehicles have many excellent recommen-
datlons. Their bodies constructed of nickel
Steei-Boynton plates, in fact-manufactured by
MesSrs Charles CammeI & Co The sides
which are quarter of inch thick are abso-
luteiy MauSer proof and the tops or flaps,
which are a sixteenth of inch less in thick
ness are bullet proof at distance of a hundred
yards. When the flaps are let down as for ex-
ample, when ammunition a field gun is being
carried, ridge shaped cover to the wagon is
formed on the other hand. when the flaps
up the vehicle, which is then open at the top,
gives accommodation for men. or for a hOwitZer
and its carriage. The brake gear to each wagon
is accessible from inside outside. as desired,
While the narrow gauge of the front wheels and
the wide gauge of the hind wheels secure re-
SIectlFey sharp locking for turning corners and
great stability.
The run yesterday was in the direction Of
Iont"1ract and at an early stage John o Gaunt's
Hill afforded a useful test of the climbing ca
pacltieS of the armored road locomotive The
rise at this point was much 5 | in l21 Here
the SLOW speed-one of choice of three-was
used and at the rate of two miles and a half
an hour the engine made easy work with the
thirty 1--WE or forty tons weight behind it. The
ascent climbed. the doWnhill journey on the
other side was effected at a rate of six miles an
hour. the braking arrangements being man
ifestly perfect When OuIton village was
reached the somewhat long train accommodated
itself with great facility TO a sharp triangular
turn in the road In the neighborhood OF
Methley halt called, and it was shown
how easily one of the howtzers and it's carriage
could be got into a wagon by the aid of ramps
and the winding gear of the engine The adVant-
age of carrying the gun. instead of trailing it,
Is not at first sight apparent, yet there may
possibly be an advantage in keeping the train
short and in the saving of friction. The wheels
of the gun carriage, too. might not always find
1t convenient to follow in the ruts made in wet
weather by the locomotive and it's following
vehicles. AT all events. the method would be
useful in picking up a disabled gun. The
hOWitZer. weighing with its carriage three and a
half tons. travelled comfortably enough under
the new conditions
a real test for the locomotive was found LATER
on, when ploughed field boldly entered
After deXterouS steering between the posts of a
| five barred gate. the engine found no difficulty
In taking its train across the fallOw. Turning
to come back, however. a slight gradient told
against progress and ultimately the train came
10 StandStill in the light. friable lOam Then
SpudS or teeth OF extra length attached to
the surface of the wheels, but still without Sc
curing more than the churning of the soil But
the resources of civilization were not exhausted
The locomotive had simply to detach itself and
go ahead, and then by the aid of its windass
the train was hauled clear Of the fallow and
onto the hard road again. Had it been necessary
the wagons could have been rescued in detail
instead of en- bloc. Supposng however that
the engine had remained fast What them
The equivalent of kedge anchor would have
been laid out and the locomotive would have
hauled on her wire rope till she extricated her