Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-04
The British LandSMpS.

When it becomes the duty of English and
French historians TO chronicle all the phases OF
ne great war along with the instruments of death
#evised and perfected by themselves and the Huns,
#reat prominence will be given the airplane the
*ubmarine, the Zeppelins and the poison gases be-
ause OF their conspicuousness during the first
.hirty months OF the war. But to the modern Jug
&srnaut, now known everywhere as the British
ank viii rightfuIly be accorded the largest need of
raise since the hitherto impregnable Hindenburg
me was crumpled and rolled back by the concert
|tfack of number of these machines. apparently
.aving the way for still larger achievements. In
hysical results this unsighty monster of iron and
rsel scored heavily. But the moral aspect greatly
utweighs this for the reason that the British
ave put together an engine OF prodigous destruc-
#veness and efficiency but, which unlike so many
N the German inventions, does not transgress any
NJ the accepted conventions OF war.
While the tank is distinctly triumph of British
&enfus and doggedness 1t may be parenthetically
hated, without in the least detracting from the
nerfts Of the finished product, that the tank owes
ne largest measure of its success as an offensive
<eapon to the adoption of the caterpillar tractor
zrincipls first devised by Holt, American in
entor The evolution of the tank presents one
Il the most interesting chapters OF the entire war
nd splendidIy typihes the persistency and determ-
nee they became factors in the affairs of the
orId
shortly after the Huns dug themselves in along
Ee Western front II became apparent to the
French and English commanders that some means
" parrying the Constant danger Of well-directed
. nd weIl-protected machine gunhre must be dis
overed II the infantry were to carry out assaults
nth even mediocre success. AS the English gov
rnment officially phrases It 'the idea Of a self
PROPELLED armoured car which could move
&cathed over unprotected ground. could crush down
ire entangIements and carry guns with crew to
FORK them occurred to several people both in the
rmy and the navy. Such an engine. recalling the
rris mobiIis Of Ivy and the beltrol Of the Middle
yes would not only be able to tackle troublesome
nachine guns in the German trenches but would
+. lso help to clear way through barbed wire
bstacles for the infantry"
After nearly two. years of constant endeavor
oupled with vexatious failures the tank first chris
ened by Tommy Atkins as big Willie," came into
d own These huge engines of war able to
limb hve-foot parapet cross ten-foot ditch, are
rejected against close range rifefre and easily
#sstroy machine gun emplacements. They operate
18th an endless self-laid track which internal
IRVING wheels are propelled by hundred-horse
lower engines, and in which conform to the stand
I'd British War Ofice requirements as to bridges
Ind railways Eacn tank carries TWO hOJcnklSS
uick-fre guns with a subsidiary armament of ma
thfne guns, and the ammunitioned and provisioned
or run OF three days. The weight OF each tank
eady for service is approximately forty tons with
speed slightly in excess OF three miles per hour
n war correspondent describing the adventures of
me OF these tanks on the way TO Courcelette said:
The bullets fell upon its sides harmlessly.
II advanced upon a broken wall, leaned up
against IL heavily until It fell with crash
OF bricks, and then rose to the bricks and
y passed over them and walked straight into the
factory ruins.
The British tank has proved its value and 1t
las come to stay. They being used effectively
~ the Entente nearly every battlefront in
EUROPE and number we're sent to Egypt and took
&art In the battle OF GAIA. So far the Huns have
#een unable to offer counter weapon; instead they
ave been compelled to exercise greater vigilance
han ever before. Meanwhile the Britishers are
#urning out new tanks daily and rushing them to
FRANCE and Belgium. Whatever their future
#chievements may be we doubt if we shall hear Of
anything more oppOrtune glorious than their
Attest exploit-breaking, crumpling and rolling
back the great Hindenburg line.