TO GRAPPLE WITH "SCORCHERS."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3, 3 January 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

TO GRAPPLE WITH "SCORCHERS."

POLICEMAN AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE

For some time past there has existed in Paris what is known a.s "the cyclists' brigade." It is composed of policemen mounted on bicycles, and has proved extremely useful. About two months ag-o a worthy sergent-de-ville named Navetat, who is attached to the force of the lGth. or Passy Ward, of Paris, and who Is amongst the agents of the law specially told off for service in the Bois de Boulonge, had a happy thought. Ehe he developed into a policeman he had liad some experience as a mechanic, and with money that he had been able to put by, he bought a motor cycle, which, owing to the knowledge he has acquired, he can himself keep in capital order. Xavetat, says thu "Dally Telegraph,'.* already finds his new acquisition Of practical service, as, thanks to it. ho can dnsh along a>nd follow a motor car, the driver of which, after having infringed the regulations as to speed, has preferred an attempt at escape ro an interview with him. nhd the Inevitable concomitant of a "nroces-yerbal," with greater ease and rapidity than if he were riding an ordinary bicycle. He is, as a matter of fact, delighted with his purchase. Navetat says that he and his comrades in the Bois de Boulonge got hold or about five offenders, on an average every day, and that they would have a bigger "bag" if the divers of automobiles when they caught sight of them, did not reduce their speed. In the majority of cases the policemen succeed by springing a surprise ou them.

Jfavetat relates with Infinite gusto a lively adventure of which he was the hero about a fortnight ago. One fine evening a motor cyclist passed at speed through the barrier at Porte Maillot, which separates Neuilly-sur-Selne from Paris, without condescending to pause for a moment for tlie exchange of a few words with the Octroi officials. Navetat, who happened to be passing at that moment, mounted his machine and started in pursuit, catching the delinquent -just after he had reached the Arc de Tribmphe. He had had a suspicion that the machine which was flying along so fast might have been stolen, and he soon discovered that he had been right In his surmise. The rider had, in fact, obtained possession of It by unlawful means, its real owner being a Eouen manufacturer, who was greatly pleased when he recovered his property, which he had regarded, naturally enough, as Irretrievably lost. The worthy policeman is very proud of his achievment, saying that it proves how useful the motor cycle can. be. The thief—who, by the way, was in the end sentenced to a month's imprisonment—was dashing along at the rate of 50 kilometres an hour, and Navetat himself was flying at the rate of 60 kilometres, when he prevailed on his quarry to stop. "Yes," he exclaims, "it was with my own money I bought my motor cycle. I gave 800f, not a sou less, for it. And then look at this splendid chronometer, which helps us to verify the speed at which motor cars are going. I bougnt It too," he adds with much complacency.