The Glenwood post., 1923-03-08
LAUGH AT DESERT
Fearless Men in Motorcars Add
Region to Civilization.
hara In Safety, Where White Mon
Never Had Been Seen.

The conquest Of the Sahara desert
by means of fast tractors and motor
cars Is today an accomplished fact.
1t is regarded in Paris government,
commercial and military circles as
possibly the most useful exploration
expedition Of the Twentieth century.
News has just been received In
Paris that the fleet Of small tractors
and motorcars, which left Algeria De-
cember Is is nearing Timbuctoo on
the Niger river. This means that they
have cut across the Sahara through
sections never before seen by white
men, distance of about twenty-five
hundred mfles-almost as easily as a
New York tourist travels to Denver,
camping nights by the wayside.
Carrying reserves of gasoline and
water, the small cars have completely
relegated the desert camel into OBJ
livion as much overrated means of
travel and have pioneered trail
which promises France as much wealth
as she may lose in trying to force Ger
many to pay reparations.
This expedition means the linking
of the rich Congo and Niger river re-
gions, which lie under French protec-
ton, with the Mediterranean, thus
making possible the quick shipments
of the resources Of these almost un-
touched districts to France and Eu-
rope.
Equatorial Africa comprises one
and third million square miles. The
population is eight million. which,
added to twelve million in occidental
Africa, indicates what the develop
ment Of such railway would mean.
These territories hold unlimited lum-
ber, with 10000 square miles in occi-
dental Africa alone. This easy motor
expedition has shown the French gov
ernment that 1t will be possible to
supply Europe with cotton, lumber,
tobacco and ivory.
The government awaited with the
greatest interest the news Of the safe
arrival of the explorers from across
the desert wastes The greatest dan.
ger lay in the 30O-mile stretch OF
| "atCAiCSS NouHtly III lhc bOulh lllu
desert region, known as Hoggar The
information here shows that the cars
crossed the space without trouble al
high speed in less than two days.
French military authorities believe
it will be possible to link up station,
by small, fast motor tractors, and
thus systematically eradicate the des
ert marauders. Flying columns OF
cars, as shown by the expedition. are
capable of negotiating the soft, shift
ing sands at much greater speed
than tie fastest camels, military mer
believe, and spell the end of the 70
mantle sheik, who leads his marauders
abroad against helpless caravans.
The fear of Georges Haardt ant
Audoin Deubreuil, the leaders of the
expedition, that 1t would be captured
by the bandits proved to be ground
less, as the cars proved so rapid as
to easily outdistance the camel
mounted bandits. The machine guns
they carried proved to be useless ex
cept for an occasional burst Of fire
at a jackal.
These men, despite the. fact that
their mission was carried out safely
and with speed unexpected even to
themselves. in face of the highly ad
vertised dangers from bloodthirsty
bandits, are today national heroes In
France. The government in the colo.
MES ordered the greatest reception
for them that Timbuctoo ever accord
ed, and on their return to Paris they
received the highest honors.