South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-26
FILE SUIT OVER
ORIGIN Of TANK
Many Claims Appear Since
Tractor Shows Value as
War Machine.

FEORlA. Ill, March Zo.-ln the
main Offices Of the Holt Manufactur-
ing Co. here there hangs a large
frame enclosing numerous photo
grabs of caterpillar" tractors in
war work and bearing the legend.
Getting a Holt on the Hun"
Another chapter in the legal con-
troversy over distinction Of introduce
ing the tractor into military service
was recorded when Judge Louis Fitz-
Henry in the United States court
heard arguments on a motion of the
defense for a new and particularized
bill in the S10.000,00O damage case
+ brought against the Holt Manufact-
uring CO. by Charles Paridy Anna
McI.archie and Ferd Lother of St
Louis, Mo. They claim infringement
Of patent. but attorneys for the com
pany say the bill is so vague they
are unable 10 determine just what
is meant.
1t is claimed that Paridy several
years ago invented "A non friction
roller similar TO the one used i'm the
caterpillar" and that he became i'll
and was unable to patent it until
after the Holt people had secured a
patent similar to his.
Appeared i'm 1916.
Since that day. in September. 1915.
when the monster British tanks of
caterpillar" construction appeared
on the battlehelds of France and
created a world sensation. there
have been various claims as TO whose
idea it was for adopting the tractor
to the tank.
Officials OF the Holt company say
that the tank and the tractor are
two separate and distinct machines.
both OF which did inestimable
service i'm the war The cater
pillar" had been on the firing line
nearly two years before the tank
appeared, and it had been in COM
mercial use throughout the world
for a decade before it appeared on
the battlefront
In 1913 friend. who had seen a
demonstration of a caterpillar" near
Antwerp, wrote TO Mai. Gen. Cthen
COLI Swinton, British army engi-
I
tor that could climb anything"
Used by Germans.
in the meantime the Germans and
Austrians had Communicated all the
'caterpillars" from farms and were
using them for moving heavy artil-
cry. When the war broke out the
Germans cabled large orders of trac-
tors for military purposes" but not
one was furnished TO the central
powers.
Confronted with the need for
heavy mobile artillery to offset the
initial advantages of the Teutons. the
British war department began 10 in
vestigate the tractor and in Septem-
Der, 1914, engineers went TO Eng
land with a standard farm cater
pillar" and astOunded the British
military officers with a series of tests.
The result was the adoption by the
British Of the "caterpillars' for NOV
ing artillery.
Maj. Gen Swinton, then acting as
the "eye witness of the British press
on the battlefelds, saw these farm
tractors hauling guns and the sight
drove home his idea of a moving
land fortress The tank resulted
Col Swinton. thus inspired by the
caterpillar" has given full credit
to this machine. invented by the
American. Benjamin Holt as the
foundation and inspiration for the
tank
French Make Improvement.
After the British tank appeared
the French war department engi-
neers hit upon a new kind Of tank
and many hundreds of the forty
five" type tractors were purchased
and used in fitting up the tanks. The
caterpillar" idea was embodied in
every other tank developed later in
the war.
AS early as 1911 an American
army officer who visited the Peoria
plant was impressed with the posi-
I'm the caterpillar tractor
for hauling artillery. II was i'm May.
1915. however. that the first army
test was arranged at the arsenal in
Rock Island. III.
Another claimant 70 the idea OF
adopting caterpillar" tractors 10
use is DR.. Frank Lydston OF
Chicago. For years Or. Lydston and
NJ. NJ. Baker. vice president and gen
eral manager OF the Peoria plant OF
the Holy company. have been init
mate friends Ohcials Of the plant |
say Il is quite possible DR. Lydston |
had suggested the "caterpillars" for
use Mr.. Baker in a recent
letter Or. Lydston gives him credit
for suggesting the military use Of
ira tors.