South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-25
FORD MAY FORCE
ENGLAND To TAKE
HIS TIN LIZZIEG
BritiSherS Find Competition
Hard Against CheapneSS
and Durability.


COnqueror" is tho headline OF a Lon
don newspaper.
There's only one Henry" and
while further discussion OF him may
he 50 much additional advertising
Tor his well-known product, II is
surely worthy OF note IN London to-
Gay that he's being looked upon as
d probable victorious invader and
arrangements are being made &C
Cordingly.
Henry Ford is getting almost as
much publicity as w. Z. "Pussyfoot"
Johnson The publicity which "Pus-
syfOot" received was such as % con-
vince an American that the lone
prohibitionist was feared. The same
may be said OF Ford as an fnterna-
fional issue today
Court Laughs.
''Hennery'' was laughed out OF
court at the time OF his last notable
invasion OF Europe. same being the
ill-fated peace ship. But there
seems TO be no way OF laughing him
out OF court now that he is sticking
10 his own natural element, that OF
making and selling motor cars and
tractors.
He has shown a disconcerting
keeness in making news, news OF the
sort British papers print in spite OF
themselves or rather. IN spite OF their
English motor advertisers.
So presumably inspired crusades
and round-tabIe discussions have
found their way into the newspapers
regarding the desirabrity-so far as
England is concerned--of the Ford
right hand drive. Even Scotland
yard IS called in to bear testimony TO
the fact that right hand driving in a
country where one turns TO the left
in meeting traffic. IS dangerous. And
Henry positively refuses to alter his
tin Lizzie"
No Fords.
- Then there IS a great motor show
and. strangely enough. there isn't a
Ford in all the vast space OF Olym-
pia. II develops that the reason
there are no FOrds on display is that
they have booked 10000 orders in
the British Isles and cannot handle
more. and that is so much more
good advertising for Henry.
over in Ireland, where Henry
las a tractor plant that is causing a
stir in motor circles. things are NOV
ing right along. First there was the
matter OF a direct Ford steamship
line. Then water power was to be
used not only 10 run the plant there,
but to light and give power for sur
rounding cities. The Ford tractor
won the international tractor com
petition against all comes, and
forthwith there was an announce
rnent that a million pound tractor
firm had been formed by British in
terests and would be challenging
Ford in European markets by next
spring.
rho tale moves swiftly. The Brit
ish general manager OF the Cork
plant resigned The general man
ager OF Detroit plant arrived with
STAFF and took a house for year.
Then 10 developed that the English
general manager resigned 10 join
tho British firm and that ne took
most OF his department heads with
him. It promises TO be a right mer-
~ little war.
Competition Sets In.
simultaneously with tho British
tractor combine report comes an
nounccment Of q gigantic British
combine which viii launch on the
market cheap motor car Mean
while every motor manufacturer in
England ia trying 10 end a way OF
making q cheap car. The special
correspondents OF London newspa-
regrs now touring America in great
numbers are writing back accounts
Of the automobile population OF
America. and the British manufac-
turer is convinced that il he can only
solve the problem ~ "Cheapness
with durability problem that has
becI solved by scores Of American
Hrms-tho British market VIII be
ycrv wide
Even Graham-Wlite. formerly
noted for his aeroplanes. is IN the
came the result being a microscopic
bug four wheels. blackboard
1ud q miniature engine chucging
away in broad daylight above the
rear wheels-and this vest pocket
edition sells for o. guineas. little
over $500 at present rate OF ex-
change.
An American. viewing the first
procession OF them through London
streets. grunted:
"Humph-a Fordettc."
Il isn't even enough OF a motor
car 20 win that title but it's the
cheapest challenge TO Henry Ford
yet concocted. And beside IL his
product looks like a Rolls Royce.
Some day someone may come
through with "a real challenge 70
Henry the Conqueror" IN the Euro.
pean cheap car and tractor market
but until that time he viii be leading
the defending armies one merry and
troublesome life.
Uni n CITY n EpK 0M