The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-06-08

taking observations, but by clever ar
| rangement of mirrors such views of the
course as the peep holes afford will be
augmented. All parts of the engine ex-
cept the road wheels are protected from
rifle fire, while its water tanks are suf-
| ficient for a run Of from ten to fifteen
miles, according to load and conditions
of road. The driving wheel is as much
as seven feet in diameter with width
of two feet, the section strips being pro
vided with a view of giving a 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 attained
| without risk Of damage.
| While it cannot be pretended that
! conveyance in an armored road wagon
represents the acme Of luxurious trav-
cling, yet it must be confessed that as
d means of protection against snipers
! these vehicles have many excellent re-
commentators. Their bodies are con-
structed Of nickel steel-Boynton plates,
in Northumberland by Messrs.
Charles Cammell & Co. The sides,
which are quarter of an inch thick,
are absolutely Mauser proof, and the
tops or flaps, which are a sixteenth of
an inch less in thickness, are bullet
proof at distance Of hundred yards.
When the flaps are let down, as, for ex-
ample, when ammunition or a field gun
is being carried. a ridge shaped cover to
the wagon is formed. On the other
hand, when the flaps are up the vehicle
which is then open at the top, gives ac-
commodation for men, or for howitzer
and it's carriage The brake gear to
each wagon is accessible from inside or
outside, as desired, While the narrow
gauge of the front wheels and the wide
gage of the hind wheels secure respec-
lively sharp locking for turning corners
and great stability.
The run yesterday was in the direc-
ton of Pontefract and at an early stage
John O Gaunt's Hill afforded a useful
test of the climbing capacities of the
armored road locomotive. The rise at
this point was as much as one in
twelve and one-half. 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-five or forty tons weight
behind 1t. The ascent climbed, the
doWn-hill journey on the other side was
effected at rate Of six miles an hour,
the braking arrangements being man
ifestly perfect When Oulton 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
was called, and it was shown how east
ly n tho hp11rit1arc nd ire yail
could be got into a wagon by the aid of
ramps and the winding gear of the en-
gine. The advantage Of carrying the
gun, instead if 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 it 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 use
full in picking up disabled gun. The
howitzer, Weighing with its carriage
three and half tons, travelled comfort
ably enough under the new conditions
real test for the locomotive was
found later on. when a ploughed field
was boldly entered. After dexterous
steering between the posts of five
barred gate, the engine found no diff
Guilty in taking it's train across the fall
low Turning to come back, however. a
slight gradient told against progress,
and ultimately the train came to a
standstill in the light, friable loam
Then spuds or teeth Of extra length
were attached to the surface of the |
wheels. but still without securing more
than the churnng of the soil. But the !
resources of civilization were not ex- |
lGausted The locomotive had simply to |
detach itself and go ahead, and then by |
the aid of it's windlass the train was |
hauled clear Of the falow and on to the
hard road again. Had II been necessa- |
ry, the wagons could have been rescued |
in detail, instead of en- bloc. Surprising, |
however. that the engine had remained |
fast. What then? The equivalent of
Ifedge anchor would have been laid out |
and the locomotive would have hauled |
on her wire rope till she extricated her
self, and then also with her Windlass. |
would have brought the trucks to firmer
Telegraph.
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