THE “CROWD PLOUGH”

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 75, 21 December 1928, Page 18

THE “CROWD PLOUGH”

An ingenious invention hailing from Belgium is about to be experimented with by the Prefecture of Police in Paris. This appliance, which might be termed a “crowd plough,” is the invention of Monsieur Van de Putte, of Brussels. The object of the device is to allow a police car to proceed steadily through the thickest crowd with as little damage to the persons composing the crowd as may be possbile. The arrangement is a very simple one, comprising a triangular frame like that f a snow plough, mounted on the frame of the car. This frame sup-

ports a number of large-diameter wheels with rubber tires, mounted in a horizontal position. The wheels turn freely and their action on encountering solid bodies is said to be to push the said bodies aside with a gentle but absolutely irresistible force. The “crowd plough” was tested recently with great success on a number of exceedingly solid bodies of people. A crowd of 240 gendarmes, picked from the strongest and heaviest men in the Belgian force, formed up in the yard of the central police depot. A small police car, fitted with the device charged this mass again and again, and in spite of determined efforts by the men it was able to keep going ahead steadily.