The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-15
UNGAINLY WORK
OF BRITISH TANKS
IN WORLD WAR
DUMBF OUNDING
Considered an Important
Adjunct in Allies War
Equipment
FIRST DELIVERY
IN JULY, 1916
Element of Surprise Has
Mush to Do With Sue
cess In War Zone

London, Dec. 16-CC Correspondence
Of The Associated Press -No man
or one department Of the British
government can take credit for Sin
venting" the tanl<s,-they came into
being as the result OF long period
OF study and co-ordinated effort by
many men acting under three separ-
ate departments, the war ONCE, the
admiralty, and the ministry of NUM-
tions.
In the autumn OF 1914 when the
belligerents on the western front had
settled down to trench warfare, it be-
came obvious that some means OF
parrying the danger of weIl-directed
and well-protected machine-gun fire
from the German trenches must be
discovered IL the English infantry
was TO carry out assaults with sue
cess.
One OF the frst proposals put for
ward was for "a machine 100 feet long,
46 feet high and so feet wide, weigh
ing some 800 tons. propelled by an
500 horsepower engine, and with
driving wheels 40 feet in diameter.
Another early suggestion, and the
one which led most directly to the
tanks, was made by Colonel Swinton
In October. 1914, to build armored
cars on 3 tractor system an Ameri-
can invention. Experiments with
various tractors were made on be-
half OF the war ONCE and by a small
expert committee Of the admiralty
under Winston Churchill, then first
lord. Through the medium OF the
committee OF imperial defense the
various efforts for the solution OF the
problem were co-ordinated, and GER
at Lett Lob
had to be fulfilled by the proposed
car.
rom among the numerous types OF
tractor inspected the most satisfac-
tory was found to be a caterpillar
with an endless self-laid track, over
which internal driving wheels could
be propelled by the engines.
In February, 1916, the first tank
was completed and taken down to a
farm near London. Here pits,
trenches and ramparts had been con-
structed. The tests were so salts
factory that an order was given on
the spot for leo machines. The min
istry Of mutations became respon
sible for the Bpeediest possible con-
Etruction OF the order. Many inn
movements were made during this
period OF construction, and the first
delivery was made in July, 1916.
The new machines were OF two
slightly different types. One was
called the male type. and was armed
with two Hotchkiss quickfirers and
q subsidiary nnachine-gun armament.
These were designed for DEALING at
close quarters with the concrete en-
placements OF German machine guns.
The other or female type, was arm-
ed only with machine guns and was
more suitable for dealing with ma
chine gun personnel and rifIemen.
At the end OF July. 1916, the tanks
and their crews had become so pro-
ficient that 1t was possible to hold
two exhibition combats over a pre-
pared trench system reproducing a
line Of German defenses.
At the end OF August, fifty tanks
were loaded at night and sent 20
France. When delivered in France,
the tanks only travelled at night, and
during the day were covered with a
huge tarpaulin and strictly guarded.
The first tanks were all painted in
canoudage style for purposes of
concealment, and each tank had it's
own name, like q ship. A whole
series Of them were named after
various drinks, such as Cafe-au-
Lait, Chartreuse, Chablis, Cognac,
Champagne, Creme de- Menthe. An
9@0I47 EE44CA bgAS AAal4CG O1 CGOLCAA
alans,-CIan Cameron, Clan Ruthven,
Clan Gordon, Clan McTavish.
The tanks first went into action in
that portion Of the Somme offensive
which began on September is. The
object was to drive the Germans out
of some high ground running east
and south of Thiepval. The effect
was as exhilarating on the British
troops as 1t was dumbfounding to
the Germans. IL Is recorded that
many OF the British infantrymen
were 50 overcome with laughter at
their ungainly antics that they were
scarcely, able to keep up with the
procession
There is no doubt that the element
Of surprise had much to do with the
extraordinary success OF the tanks |
on their first appearance, but their
achievements proved that they had /
more solid qualities than the gift of /
surprise. Later In the year tanks i
were sent out 10 Egypt and were in
action at GAIA.