CAPE TO CAIRO BY MOTOR.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14759, 1 September 1913, Page 7

CAPE TO CAIRO BY MOTOR.

KELSEY ENPEDITION b-ARTS.

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyrigbt.) (Received August 31st, 5.5 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, August 30. Captain Kelsey and his nvo companions have started on their Cape to Cairo motor expedition. The members of the expedition consist of Captain It. X. ivelscy. Mr J.-Picker-gill Cunliffe, Count Corncjgano, Mr J. fc_ott-Brown, Mr J. M. Gilnlaud, and Mr Angus Macaskill, mechanic. Captain Kelsey. who is m charge, ana who has organised the whole thing. «* service in South Alr.ca, and J""** £ the work a wide experience of the coin try and of the difficulties winch w ill have to be overcome in the IoJO-iaiie journey. Mr Cunliffe and Count C.ornegliano are interested in b:g MU-c hunting. The photographer of the party is Mr Scott-Brown. Mr GUUland'is sent out by the "Daily telegraph." who have arranged that news of the work that is being done shall ue sent home at frequent intervals. Tho motor has been designed and built to meet as far as.^P 0 ?, siblo tho diverse and difficult conditions under which it must no driven. It is a car with an open body, roughly 7ft by about 4ft wide at the base, the sides curving outwards to a width of 6ft. A hood drawn oyer hoops, such as one sees on a country waggon, will afford protection when tropical storms beat upon it. The engine, fitted with sleeve valves, is of j-o----50 horse-power, and is of a type originally designed for rough work in Argentina, one firm in that country having ordered no fewer than thirty of them. A feature that is likely to be much appreciated when streams in flood have to bo crossed is that the machinery continues to work when it is actually under water. The very large wheels—they are no less than * lo_in in diameter — enable the vehicle to travel over rougher ground than would be possiblo with wheels of a vera go sis:o. The body is constructed of steel, and consists of an outer and inner shell. These can be lifted off the chassis, bolted together end to end —thus doubling the size—and used as a boat. The weight it will carry in the water is no less than three tons. The mere comfort of the passengers has been a secondary consideration. Practically all the available space is required for equipment and rations. At times very great distances will havo to be travelled, during which it would not bo safe to count on obfa'ning food, aud in such areas tho party will rely on what they can shoot and on tinned meats, which must be carried with them. A "kitchen-box" —somo 4ft long and Ift broad and deep—contains all the cooking utensils. Sometimes the car will havo to cross streams strewn with boulders. JHere light bridges must bo constructed, and tho nroblom will be to jret tho necessary timber. Occasionally a track will have to ho cut through the dense grass and juntle. and for this purpose w'll be carried in the car. Picks, shovels, nnd a jack will bo kept handy, in case the ear should sink deep in soft and miry ground. To meet tho trouble in sandy areas and swamps spare wheels are'being taken. 1 These can be bolted on to the main wheels, thus securine a broader tread and a firmer grip on the ground. j