The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-09-21
MITCHELL MAN LAYS
CLAIM TO IDEA OF
NEW WAR TANKS
Charles S. Weller,
Over Year Ago, Sent
Suggestion to London
FARM TRACTORS in
Use on Farm With Caterpillar
Threads Laid Foundation
For Armored Car

Priority in the invention of the
new travelling "tanks,' or armored
caterpillar tractors, great Britain's s
coup in the European war, has been
claimed by Charles S. Weller, of Nit
chell who made suggestions to the
British and French war departments
over year ago, which he believes
resulted in the construction of the
crawling monsters. Mr. Weller has
been using caterpiller tractor on
the Weller farms southwest of Nit
chell and it is from the operation of
this machine that he derived his idea.
When the idea first came to him,
Mr.. Weller constructed a preliminary
pencil drawing showing the general
outlines OF the machine, and from
this made blueprints, showing exact
ly how the crawling tank would work
in crossing bitches. spanning trench
es. bridging moats, travelling over
soft ground or mud, climbing en-
banhments, and in roofing up, tear
ing out, and destroying barbed wire
entanglements.
Having completed this work he
dictated a long statement setting
forth the practical operation of the
tractor. He demonstrated how each
of he various features mentioned in
the previous paragraph could be ac-
complished, and the military mano-
euvers which could be employed to
drive the enemy out of their trenches.
Data Mailed to War Offices.
Upon the completion of this, fold
ers We're made, which consisted of a
copy of the statement, together with
a number of drawings, blueprints,
'and other descriptive matter. These
folders We're then. mailed out, ad-
dressed to David Lloyd-George then
minister of munitions, John Redmond
NJ p. and Sir Edward Grey, British
foreign secretary.
Like parcels went to French Off
cials, for their consideration, while
some We're mailed to the German war
officials, Mr.. Weller thinking that his
idea should go to all alike, exactly
as American gods should. The Ger
man mail was held up by the censors,
however and never reached its des-
tination.
1T was only matter of a few weeks
until the Mitchell man was in receipt
of replies from British official sources
stating that the descriptive matter
relative to his idea had been received
and that the proposal had been TAX
an under advisement by the war of
| fees.
1t was several months ago that
| Mr.. Weller received his last acknow-
| ledgement. but not until few days
ago that any results of his labors
could be preceived. The idea had
been carefully guarded by the govern.
mental officials and no one knew that
the 'tanks" would be introduced un
Til the press notices a few days ago
Created Il Sensation.
Weird and unusual appeared tht
crawling monster to the unsuspectiul
|soldiers. In the columns of the paper:
Throughout the country appeared dis
patches telling how the English sol
diers laughed and cheered as tn,
crawling beasts came trundling acros
)shell craters over embankments, ant
lacroSs bitches without any hesitation
Many liie-like characteristics wer
lattributed TO them. They seemed rea
land live and to be acting upon thei
instincts. One soldier exultantly tolt
how tractor stopped to browse a
the edge of a wood before commenc
ing to advance"
Exactly what they resembled II
one could say They seemed to her
aid the return of a donosauer, and
lfertle imagination could see the an
cient monster crossing the fields
spouting bullets at his nostrils. The
looked like armdillos and measurin
worms, but yet they We're none O
these They looked like low, fiat, gre
tanks. but yet they were alive. Thei
Introduction was the greatest singl
feat since the advent of the Germa
42-centimetre guns at Liege.
Back of the deed is the dreamer
and it is the belief of Mr.. Weller tina
credit for the priority OF the idea bG
longs to him. Additional proof of thi
is furnished by the fact that the m;
chimes nsel are made by the Ho
f Manufacturing company and are TIL
> precise machines used by Mr.. Welle
i'm his illustrations and described i
him aa the kind he had in use.
V Churchill Gets Praise.
!, Further evidence is also to Z
: found in a statement by David Lloyt
n George, to whom Mr.. Weller submit
ted his idea, in which the British mil
Il ister praises Winston Churchill b
n cause the latter Immediately took l
Il with the idea when it was presente
f and pushed it through to completio
y ''IIe converted me" declared Llos
n George, in Tuesdays news dispatc
n showing that he had previous kno'
e ledge of it. He acknowledged the r
ceipt of Mr. Weller's letter soon a
ter the idea was submitted.
9 The limited States war dpDartme e