Newark post., 1919-03-05
TANK CORPS TO BE
PERMANENT PART
OF STANDING ARMY
Captain Whittingham Re,
views its History and
Achievements

LE" QGs> ago some very lLllM-I2[-
ing facts concerning the develop
msnC Of .he Tank division Of the
army. The activities Of this par
cicular branch Of the service were
little known 70 the average Amer.-
can for several reasons and aside
from the fact that the slogan
" Treat EN- rough " had been
adopted and that the tank could do
almost anything except climb Z
tree, few details have until recent
" for military reasons been given
10 the public.
The tank scheme was devised BY
Colonel Swtnton, an Englishnan
who had done valiant service in
the Boer War. The idea developed
from observation Of the caterpil-
lar tractor used for agricultural
purposes. Colonel Swinton thought
that by the use Of a-mor plate. and
other changes there machines
could be utilized for taking enemy
machine gun empIacements with
out so great q loss Of infantry.
The idea was favorably received
by the English government and in
1915 tract Of ground in Southern
England was taken over for expert
mental work. To maintain strict
secrecy, this tract was fenced off
with charged barb wire and a num-
Der Of machinists interned there
to carry on the experiments.
These activities naturally arous-
ed curiosity and TO alIay suspicion
Colonel Swinton caused the report
to be circulated that they were con-
structing tanks for Russian oils TO
fulfill certain contracts. The name
tank" thus fastened upon this war
machine was retained and is used
in all official records.
This terrifying contrivance was
sprung on the Germans first
at Cambria and lived up to all ex-
pectations. The French initiating
the British machine but consider
ing it too clumsy. developed
smaller tank. Louis RenauIt there
upon turned over the resources Of
his machine shops 10 the manufac-
ture Of the lighter French type,
which carries : crew Of two men.
driver and = machine gunner.
The French tank is about I5l. feet
.ong. - feet high and So feet
wide. weighs about s tons, is fitted
with armor plate 5-l6 inches thick
and has maximum speed Of &
miles per hour. The larger type
carries q crew Of 3 men, IS equip
ped with 4 y cylinder Ltebrty
motor, weighs about 40 tons and is
very clumsy. Il is estimated that
the tank Is equivalent to IS men Of
regular infantry in an attack.
For instruction purposes in this
country. the light French type was
imported.
Captain Whittingham said that
as far as Tank tactics are concern
ed there was little to be said ex-
cept that drivers are cautioned to
60 not more than 80 yards in ad-
vance Of the infantry without
which they are practically power
less. Tanks can take but naturally
cannot hold position-that is. the
function Of the supporting infan-
try. These in turn must not get too
close to the tanks for they make an
excellent target for the enemy who
try to shatter the treads which ac-
ton makes further locomotion i'm
possible. Should the tanks be dis
abled. and surrounded by the
enemy, the occupants must fight on
foot. In hill climbing where the
enemy might be on the other side
with hand grenades, they tried a
perlscope arrangement to enable
them to see over the rise Of the
hill. This was not satisfactory.
however, and as a British officer
expressed it, the best way TO find
out the desired information was
TO get chap with stout heart
to stick his head out and take
look"
In reply to a question concern
ing the activities Of the Germans
in tank warfare Captain Whiting
ham said that they had done very
little for several reasons. While
they have good machinists, they
are imitators, not originators.
They captured some British tanks
and attempted to improve upon
them by placing shields over the
vulnerable treads these however,
proved a detriment since they cut
into the earth and impeded pro-
gress. Then, too, the Germans
were short of materials neressarv