THE MOTOR WORLD

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 20 June 1925, Page 13

THE MOTOR WORLD

ACROSS AFRICA

many expeditions. BY AIR AND A!UT'OH. \ remark able number of missions in automobiles and aii'Pbmes June been carried out lecently by the french Government and by French private persons in French African territory. From the northern parts or Ainca Morocco, Algeria, Tunis—to the cemral parts down to Bake Ichau anti the Cameroon* and the Congo, and tne whole territory of the Sudan, exj.eui tions or some importance have been sent to map out the way for pe. man ent motor-car and aerial routes. There are the Citroen “raids ; the Tranin Mission; the flight ’ across the Sahara to Western Africa; the l arisDakar journey undertaken by Lieutenant Letnaitre; the de Goys-.l elletiei fl’Oisv traiect and a number or others, all of which have marked •out hew i paths from the metropolitan country ( to the Equator. It would almost seem that a concerted plan has'been put into operation so great is the activity vv hie i Sis in the trans-Mediterranean territories of Trance In P« int fact, however, the multiple phases or this action are not eo-ordiated. Theie lias apparently arisen a new spirit of exploration, and some oi the exploits have been commanded by commercial sporting rivajry. IM AG 1N ATI ON STIMULATED. The desire for adventure has had something to do with certain of the feats that have been penormed and the imagination has been stimulated bv the picturesque accounts of some of these voyages. At the present moment the situation is as fobows The Gradic mission has recently € d —the two brothers Etienne in six days, in caterpillar cars, covered the distance from the extreme lorth of -he Da home v Railway to the extieme south of the Algerian Railway. It took them less than four days to traverse the territory from the Niger to Colomb-Bechar. .... \t the same time the expedition, run bv Haardt and Audoulm-Dubreml, which" left Colomb-Bechar m caterpillar cars, reached Bangui on the frontiei of 'the Iselgia.ii Congo, covering an itinerary of over 7000 kilometres It afterwards left for the Gulr of Aden. What is known as the Tranin mission )e,ft Konakry in December and its objective is Jibuti—a tiaject of over 14,(KX) kilometres. The voyntiers left in two automobiles with ordinary wheels. Their purpose vyas to show that it was possible to join two French ports,' one on the Atlantic Ocean —Fiench Guinea—the other on the Gulf of Aden across the immense continent. There was no need to cross the desert, and there are posts al\ along the route. 7000-KILOMETRE “RAID.’’ Then there is an official “raid” from Tunis to Lake Tchad commanded by Colonel Courtot and composed of a fairly numerous company, on six caterpillar «ars. Dom Laves to N’guimi is ' about 7000 kilometies. Then there is from South Tunis to Lake Tchad a private expedition undertaken bv Precourt and Rossion vv 1 thou t escort of any kind hut it is anticipated that they will fall m with the Courtot mission. . By way of the air, LieutenantColonel Tidesne, with Contain Gama, Lieutenant Michel and Adjutant Cadoux, left Dakar at the end or December and progressed to ColombBechar across the Sahara. I,m "" squadron has, during the last- tom years, flown in every direction ac-ioss French West Africa. There is the expedition untie 1 Colonel de Govs, in which Pelletier d’Oisv is participating. It sets out to fl v from Paris to Lake Tchad and thence to Bangui. Other distinguished members of this mission are Colonel Vuillemin and Captain Dagneaux. Lieutenant Lemaitre was. desirous of reaching in a single flight Dakar from Paris. It is Lake 'j’fhad and the southern territories which have become the great centres of attraction, and it cannot be doubled that these and other French explorers will discover many matters of great interest, from the point of view of commerce and of co’onisation. For the moment Citroen ha s abandoned the project which he had of running a regular service from nortliern Africa to Timbuktu, but doubtless the idea will be taken up again, and there is no reason why is should not be realised.

TRAFFIC CONTROI.

EDUCATING THE CHILDREN. DUTY OF MOTOR UNIONS. “Not only have we a duty to the motorists, but we have a duty to pedestrians/’ said Mr. A. E. Ansell at the social which was tendered to the delegates of the South Island Motor Union ov the C.A.A. last week. Mr. Ansell urged that steps should be taken to educate the children as to the dangeis of the streets, and as to the correct method to cross busy intersections. There is no doubt that Christchurch has more- than its due proportion of “jay-walkers,” and as the time goes on, the position will become worse. In the past much has been ..aid about the motorist wanting the whole of the road for himself, but the position is at present that the pedestrians seem to want the whole ot the main thoroughfares for themselves. There is room lor education, and for bringing about a better understanding between the motorist and the pedestrians.

Mr. Ansell, in his remarks, referred to the part that Mr. Halliday and bunself hail taken i M Dunedin some years ago, when they went around the schools, and spoke to the pupils on the methods of conducting 1 1 1 emse es in traffic. Their efforts did not meet with much success, one of the principal causes of their failure being the apathy of the Education Hoard towards the work.

The motor unions of New Zealand are now becoming a power in the land, and the motorist is not now looked upon as someone outside the pale, although there are still a few. both motorists and others who endeavour to descredit- motorists on every occasion, the former bv their disregard tor the laws, and the latter by pin-pricking wherever there is an offence against the bv-laws.

It is no to the motor unions to take up this work,, commencing with the children, for it js through these that the majority of the people will become acquainted with the agitation that is going on. The. lirst principle that will have to ho installed into all is that both the motorist and the pedestrian have their individual rights, and that those rights should he respected on a’il occasions. Traffic control is now exercising the minds of the civic* authorities in nil parts of the world, and the time is ripe for something definite to be done in Christchurch. If a proper system was initiated now, some of the great dillicnlties that are in sight would be obviated. and the streets would become safer for all kinds of traffic.

POLAND'S MOTOR INDUSTRY. STILL IN THE FUTURE. One of Poland’s great ambitions since the World War has been to develop an automobile industry of its own, according to a report from Warsaw. So far, however, all efforts in that direction have resulted only in the organisation of several companies making small quantities of automobile parts with the possibility of a gradual development to the point where they’ woulct be equipped to produce and assemble complete cars. • There are at present about 200 concerns in Poland aspiring to such future aim. but now engaged only in repair work and in occasional production of exchange parts. Some foreign autoniobil/e .manufacturers ailso maintain repair shops in Poland. There are no serious obstacles to the development of motor-car manufacture in Poland. Practically all kinds of raw materials are produced in the country. Manufactured parts of all descriptions are also made locals". including even solid tyres. There are several concerns producing complete passenger and truck bodies. There are other concerns producing internal combustion engines for agricultural and industrial trfh'l our poses. And yet, the creation ol a plant to produce" automobiles on a quantity basis is still to come. The money "shortage throughout the country is one of the deterring reasons, and the lack of ski'Jed labour and of «. competent staff of engineers, mnnngcr.s, and superintendents is another obstacle. On the other hand, the prospects for an automobile industry in Poland are being given serious consideration.

BY ROAD TO MOSCOW

ACROSS EUROPE BY SIDECAR. The first half of this article, contributed by A. Pratt and E. S. Armstrong to The Motor Cycle and reprinted in these columns last week, described how the authors reached, Rvono, in Poland, and were ordered to leave at once because their passport visas had expired. Unfortunately, by a mistake on the part of the Soviet Consul in London, they could only enter Russia at a town 90 mi os away, to which there was no road. The adventurers continue : —At seven in the evening came the welcome news that permission to enter Russia by the direct route had been granted, and we were formally signed' for and handed over to the tender mercies of the Bolsheviks, whose headquarters were at Pishtoff, a small village about five miles away. A sturdy young soldier dressed in khaki and with a green five-pointed star in the centre of his cloth helmet dumped himself on the carrier of 'our cycle, and we tore along under full throttle, so that ouv Bolshevik guide had to hold on for dear life; but he took it all in good part. In a few minutes we drew up at the Customs, where we were interviewed by a roomful of inquisitive and perplexed Communists. Out of the confused babel of unknown tongues we

understood nothing but the words “Shipitofka” and “contraband.” Fortunately, a French-speaking teacher of economics entered and explained that arrangements would be made to take us to Shipitofka next day, and that a wire would be sent to Kiev for instructions about the machine, which was , contraband. ,Now that (fjriendty relations were firmly established, the Director pointed with pride to the pic-, tures of the Soviet leaders on the walls. Lenin was first favourite, and Trotsky came next. At 10 o’clock we were invited to the Commandant’s house, where great efforts had been made to provide us with a good meal. An excellent omelette soon vanished and ham. j sausage, and brown bread washed down ! our dry throats by bottles of beer gave j us renewed life and vigour. Pears and ! apples formed the dessert, and we finished up with copious libations of scalding hot tea, served in glasses. Life in Soviet Russia seemed really delightful.

The n ext day, comfortably seated on a bundle of hay placed at the back of a farmer’s cart, and aoeampanied by a Soviet Tommy, we began a crosscountry ride of forty miles. Midnight found us at the military frontier post of Slaouta, where we slept at the barracks, and in the morning our passports were stamped by the Colonel in command, who supplied us with tobacco and cigarettes. Refusing a pressing invitation to stay and play football with flie soldiers, we made the return journey in an army transport wagon. On arriving at our own village, we were welcomed like long-lost friends ancl told that a telegram had been received from Kiev allowing us to take our -sidecar outfit duty free into Russia.

With minds free from anxiety, we slept peacefully, and, bidding goodbye to our Bolshevik friends, who refused to receive anything for their hospitality, and who, as a final gift, loaded us with apples, pears, and plums, we made an early start in the morning. The road being good, Pratt opened up the I throttle for full speed ahead, but an I unexpected crevasse brought us to | grief with the snapping' of a sidecar I spring. Proceeding more cautiously, we passed through Ndvograd Volynsk, and soon sighted Shitomir, an important country town that had frequently changed hands during the wa*\ On being surrounded i n the centre of the town by the usual dense crowd, we showed the most intelligent-looking individual a slip of paper written in Russian: “Please direct ns to the Peasants’ Home.” In a few minutes we were in front of an imposing building, and, entering a large dining-room, sat down at a vacant table. Nothing but Russian was spoken, but, by signs and a personal visit to the kitchen, we soon had on the table a large plateful of- soup, meat, vegetables, and a bottle of beer. There- was no sign of food shortage here, and the peasants were reasonably well dressed. In about half an hour a young ma n with black hair and Jewish features entered hud accosted us in good English. He had been sent from his work as a {State barber to act as interpreter. To our utter amazement, he informed us that we were to he the guests of the town, and pressed us to stay and inspect the town institutions. As we carried

no Jotters of introduction, and represented no political party, we were staggered at such a flattering reception. With this man as guide, we obtained a permit from the President of the Town for a free supply of petrol from the State Depot, visited the Communist Club, and returned to pass the night at the Peasants’ Home, which possessed good bedrooms, a lounge, library, museum, and restaurant. Early the next morning we were once more oil our travels, ploughing our way through line, powdery earth, or zigzagging to avoid pot-holes and craters. In the afternoon we drove triumphantly into the centre of Kiev, where the usual dense crowd soon surrounded us, and, under the guidance of a Erenoh-speaking “bourgeois, 1 ' obtained a. nice, clean bedroom at tho Peasants’ Home for about 3s. In the warm air of a delightful, Sunday afternoon the people were parading the main streets or ascending a high mount, from which a wonderful view of the city and the va'Jey of the Diver Dnieper can be obtained. The next morning we decided to solicit the help of the authorities in our journey to Moscow, and, with our bourgeois friend as guide and interpreter, we made our way to the Town Hall, where we obtained an interview with the President. After an hour’s cordial and pleasant talk, we left with a valuable official document recommending us to the authorities of the next town, J Chernigov, to which the President • telegraphed that we were coming. | Twelve o’clock the following day | found us outside Chernigov, where a | droskv driver had been posted to guide j us to the Town Hall on our arrival. I After a cordial reception and a fill-up with free petrol, we set out for Gomel. The famed Pripet' Marshes now came in sight, and we ran for miles on a. high built-up road, with large sheets of stagnant water on either hand. It was quite dark when we ran into Gomel. The reception and hospitality I we received at this town will ever re- j main a pleasant memory with us. We | inspected factories and watched the grim-kioking Bolshevik workmen toil- J ing at the foundry and the lathe and in the saw mills. We visited various clubs and institutions, including even a well-appointed babies’ creche. Speeches were made in our honour, and we made s<j’*ie in return. The municipal machanics worked like Trojans to repair the exhaust pipe, footboards, and clutch rod, which had been badly knocked about in Poland On our leav-j ing , the President of the town gave us an official letter requesting all Russian authorities to give us hoard and lodging and to help us on our way by every means possible. It proved an “open sesame” wherever we showed it. and we called it “the magic wand.”

Leaving the town amid the cheers ■of a large crowd, we so cm knocked oh the sixty odd mi'es to Dovsk, a little village standing at four cross-roads —

one leading N. to Leningrad, one W. to Warsaw, and one S. to Kiev,, and the other E. to Moscow. On the signpost (the only one we ever saw in liussia) were the words “Moscow, 650 versts” (1 verst equals 2-3 mile). Mile after mile and hour after hour we sped through immense .pine forests on a load almost as straight as a ru'e, but

pleasantly undulating. This historic road showed little traces of use, and in many parts was almost overgrown with grass or moss, which gave a hue, smooth surface.

Evening saw us in Iloslav, nearly 200 miles from our starting point that morning. This was the best day’s run we ever did, and to think that it was done in Russia, of all countries! Our

“magic wand-” from Gomel at once obtained for us an audience of the President of Eoslav, who entertained ns at his ow n home. The inspection of the factories and town clubs to which we had now grown, accustomed followed the next morning. After a big lunch, with the Town Council at the railway men’s club, and an official photograph of us seated in their midst, we were reluctantly allowed to proceed. Thjrty miles out on the vast plain our main road had almost disappeared beneath its coating of moss and weeds. On we went past villages of .log huts, until at nightfall we secured lodging, shelter, and the kindest hospitality at a large farmhouse. The farmer’s wife cooked hot cakes for us in a huge Russian oven. These served with rich cream and honey were delicious. One hundred and fifty miles from Moscow! It was a glorious day, and the. countryside, with its many woods and green pastures, breathed a new spirit into us, and the miles spun behind us as though by magic. By three in the afternoon the goal was reached. Moscow, with its gilded domes glittering in the sun, lay at our feet.

A further hole-in-one has been addo to the Wellington total for tin's season.

C. Hemery holed out his tee shot at the eleventh at Hutt in a medal competition last Saturday. As the “one” was sandwiched between a couple of had holes it found itself in somewhat incongruous company.