MOTOR EXPEDITION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 February 1926, Page 15

MOTOR EXPEDITION.

CAPE TOWN TO CAIRO. The headquarters of the Court-Treat! Cape-to-Cairo motor expedition has just learned from the Governor of Khartoum that the party and the two Crossleys are now between Wau and El Obeid. From this it can be gathered that the last stage of the journey is now in progress. Writing to Crosslev Motors, Ltd., Major Court-Treatt says: “Y'ou will be interested to hear that between Mon-

galla and WaU the expedition had to cross nuniei'oiiS"rivers, some of which were unbridged and without boats of any kind to take the cars, and much as .14 to 20 feet deep. The cars, therefore, had to be dragged across, being completely submerged in the process. In one instance one car stuck on a mud- , bank, and was over three hours under water and quite' invisible. Only the magneto and carburettors, etc., were taken off. Notwithstanding this horrible treatment, the Crossleys both started up without any trouble at all as soon as they had been dried and magnetos, etc., refitted. After the bath the cars seemed to go better than ever. ’ ’

It will be remembered that Major Court-Treatt, with his wife and other members of the expedition, set off from Cape Town with two Crossley cars in September, 1924, in an attempt to travel to Cairo by road. Progress has been greatly delayed by prolonged rain and flood, but apparently their objective is now within sight. When the journey was started the cars were equipped with special tops which could be used as punts, but necessity compelled Court-Treatt to shed these a little later on to enable him to travel light.