INVENTING THE TANKS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 251, 22 October 1919, Page 7

INVENTING THE TANKS.

AN AUSTRALIAN'S CEAIM. [ (Received 11.45 a.m.) , LONDON, October 21. During the sitting of the Tank Com- " mission inquiring into who is entitled to ' the bounty for their invention, L. E. ' Demole, an Australian corporal, made a ! - claim in connection with a steering chain- * rail tank, of which lie submitted a model 1| to the War Odice in 1012. They declined Ito take over the invention. Demole ' said that his expenses had been heavy. Demole said that he realised the advantages of the chain-rail sysU.n while engaged in heavy transport work in West Australia in 1911. When the War Office returned his documents in 1912, stating that it was not further experimenting with chain-rails, his friends urged him to submit models to the Gcrs mans. He refused owing to the likclili hood of their being enemies. He unsuccessfully submitted fresh plans to the War Office in 11)15. He thought his own invention better than tbe present tanks in view of their ability to go backwards, and the steering gear. His models,'etc., cost him £1000. Mr. .Justice Snrgant snid that the claim might be doubtful because it did not mature into the present invention, j but the Commission was obliged for evidence showing bow the general idea originated- (A. and "N.Z. Cable.)