CAPE TO CAIRO

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12411, 3 April 1926, Page 18

CAPE TO CAIRO

JOURNEY ACCOMPLISHED. ■ An epic of travel was concluded on January 24th. 1926, when for the first time in history Cape to Cairo was covered by motor-car by the CourtTreatt expedition. The expedition left England \in August, 1924, to attempt the journey from Capetown to Cairo by motor-car. The cars used were two Crossleys. After sixteen months of extraordinary difficulties and dangers, Cairo was reaohed on January 24th,, 1926. This is the first occasion on which the whole length of Africa has been covered by motor-car,, and approximately 13,000 miles were traversed. At times the rate of progress was only a , mile, a day, so difficult was the going. Desert, ..forest, mountain, and river had to he fought. ‘Extremes of cold and heat had , to, he endured. Insect pests, .caused illness;: on more than one occasion.; Often the cars were completely submerged in water. But the expedition' went on to its, triumphant

conclusion, and , once again a victory baa been registered for the British pioneer spirit and for a British car: The two Crossley ears were selected by the explorer after special tests which he .conducted • himself. Incidentally, it may be mentioned . that the lake at the Zoological Gardens, Belle .Vue, Manchester, ' was ' utilised during this process, it being necessary to know how . the cars would behave going through, water. Special features, of the cars were the provision of a dark room for photographic work, gun ,racks, seats which are convertible into beds, and special protection in the form of nets of close mesli against insects. Five people composed the expedl*' tion. They were: - Major ■ CourtTreatt, F.R.G.S., F.R.C.1., his wife, and her brother, a journalist, and a cinematographer. Major Court-Treatt has: spent many yeats in survey ? and exploration work in Africa,, and | hie wife is the first white woman to penetrate to many of the remote parts of Africa. The following brief resume of the journey gives some idea of the progross made: — Left London—August -28th, 1924., ■ Left Capetown—September. 23rd, ■ - ■■ 1924.- . ,■ Arrived Johannesburg-—October 12th ■ ■ ;■, 1924.’ ■■'■■■■■■ Arrived Nairobi—September- 30th, 1926. - ■: 1 Arrived Assuan—January, sth, 1926. Arrived. Cairo—January 24th, 1926. DANGER OF PETROL ’ HOW ACCIDENTS OCCUR. Serious accidents are often due to the careless handling of motor spirit, probably the most highly inflammable spirit known. Yet who has not setn novices filling the tank with, n' lighted cigarette between their lips? Smoking in tho vicinity of polrol is on a par with' the young tenderfoot who longed to play skittles with dynamite. It is quite a oommon occurrence, too, to see a year tank being filled, with the spirit shipping over the ground wlvle the engine is running. A back-fire, and the spirit would, probably catch alight. A very, important accessqry is a fire extinguisher. Even .if you never have- to Use it, the knowledge that it: is,at hand g' ve s you a .sense of security. Fire inside a cat is fraught with terrible danger, as it is liable to occur with alarming suddenness. In the everit of fire, as in all; other motoring .eventualities, remember the golden rule, which has been: the means of -saving many motor fatalities, “Keep your head.” Bring the ear to a standstill, turn eff the petrol, and keep the engine running, to use up the fuel, in the carburettor. This ! s the great. factor. If you have passengers, ,t is to he hoped your doors are easy of manipulation and kept well .oiled. .There, is very little woodwork about the modern car, and if none of this catches you may save the situation; but, unfortunately, many drivers, and especially women drivers, at the sight of a flame, have been known to jump off a car and abandon ft much-loved possession to itp fate—all for the want of keeping one’s nervous system under control.' A great help in this connection is 16 visualise danger, and, therefore, he, ready to meet it when it are more than half prepared ' for, it. You need not, of course, rush to the other extreme,, and imagine every time you set out ihnt your car is going on fire, or that you are about to be involved in a collision. This will rob your motoring* of a. great deal Of its joys. Fire is a rare, occurrence, but forewarned is foreamied.

When oiling the brake pins and connections, be careful to keep the oil away from the brake drums and lining, ns few drops would make the brake grab.