A PRE-WAR TANK

Otago Witness, Issue 3442, 2 March 1920, Page 41

A PRE-WAR TANK

WHY IT WAS NOT USED. OFFICIAL PIGEGN-lIOI.es. (From Ocjh Own COKHEsroNDENT.) ,--, LONT>ON, November 26. '?' Because somebody at the War Offiof pigeon-holed the design for a tank submitted in 1912, the army had to wait until 1910 to get an article which tho authorities admilj w.as not so good. This revelation was made before the In* j vent-ions Commission when Corporal D£ Mole, of the Australian Imperial Forcer ■ claimed an award. In 1912, when engaged in heavy transport work in Australia he sens to the War Office tho model of an armoured car. It was rejected. He was urged id offer it to the Germans, but would not da so. In 1916 he again submitted the idea to the War Office. Counsel for the Crown admitted that Corporal de Mole's originaj plan would have made a better article thai that which actually went into action a| the Somme. ,' ' The Chairman pointed out that the comio mission could not recommend an award he* cause the invention had never been'used, in the actual evolution of the tanks. •, j Corporal de Mole:' It should have been soij' Mv documents were at the War Office. '• <. The Chairman: Yes, but unfortunate!/, thev were pigeon-holed.—(Laughter.) \ Corporal de Mole said that his chief r« gret was-that the tanks* were not usediqi 1914. The Chairman said the commission did not recommend an award, but the great* est credit was due to the claimant for hi* suggestions, whioh it was clear would hav« been of extraordinary value. It was un« fortunate for tho country that they wer« made at a time earlier than when every* body was looking around for something of the kind.