MECHANIZED ARMY

Southland Times, Issue 21219, 21 October 1930, Page 7

MECHANIZED ARMY

DISPLAY AT ALDERSHOT THE LATEST TANKS IN ACTION REALISTIC BATTLE (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) London, October 19. From a temporary stand overlooking a wide stretch of country .near Aidershot a large party of delegates attending the Imperial Conference saw demonstrated the British Army’s vast array of motor vehicles adapted to every war purpose. In this military mechanization it is understood that Britain leads the world and the Army Council held back nothing, though it forbade photography of the latest things, including the world’s most modern tank. The demonstration .was favoured by bright autumn weather, those in attendance, including Messrs F. Brennan and P. Moloney (Australia) and G. W. Forbes (New Zealand). Amidst a swirl of dust, screeching gears, roaring engines, booming guns and thick smoke screens a modern mechanized battle was realistically staged with the company commander in a tank sending out his orders to all arms by wireless telephone. Then followed a march past of every kind of experimental military motor from an armoured baby Austin, carrying a couple of officers, to fantastic six and eightwheeled tractors and tanks of all sizes, which showed an uncanny capacity for negotiating sandhills and trenches, concluding with a thrilling handicap race, round a one-mile course, in which a new “hush-hush” 16-ton tank won comfortably from every other type of war motor. The tank seemed to finish at a speed of at least 30 miles an hour. The old war time tank had half the course start, but was left far behind. s >

Finally the new type of bridge-building for the new type of vehicles was shown at Camberley. . The party then partook of luncheon at the Staff College. ' *'