“GENERAL TANK”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11767, 14 October 1932, Page 3

“GENERAL TANK”

kl;ai:, victor oyer germ a ns. LONDON- Sept. ‘JSL Secrets of tlie struggle to obtain tan U-- ure disclosed in a history ol tanks by Major-General Sir Ernest Swinlon. tlie real originator of the move. He recalls that despite the trench deadlock, it was obviously iniperativo to discover a nictbod of countering the deadly Gernum machine-guns to enable a victorious advance. The military authorities almost unanimously condemned flic ••futility’ c f General Sainton’s suggestion. Earl Kitchener, calling the tank a “pretty mechanical toy”, led the opposition. Headquarters in France ridiculed the idea, even when General Swinton secured the construction of a fair number of tanks. "Wicked uncles,” as General. Swinton characterises the sla.IV, consistently mi'S-used tbe new weapon, revealing tbe secret by utilising 32 in a petty operation during the Hattie of the Somme, although General Swinton urged the employment el huge numbers as a tremendous surprise. Criticising the stall, the general thuja res : "Despite the example of the Germans’ stupendous mistake in i'Cleasing gas over a short, sector, wc. 16 months later, with o u r eyes open, similarly erred,. and discovered a possible future great coup for a slendre prospect of immediate gain. ■ ‘'Ultimately, after tbe tank raid ore Caleb rai in 1917. the authorities realised the possibilities of a mass attack by tanks. They used i.nord.than ,800 in’ the great push on August 8. 1918, in which Australians participated. and which General Ludendorlf called Germany’s Black Day. • "General Zwehl later wrote: ‘‘The Germany were beaten net bv loch, but by General Tank in conjunction with. American reinforcements.’’ , . Goner'al. Swinton ■ doubts whether the importance -of -the tank is _/yet realised in the highest. British military circle*.