THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.'
A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT.
Through Darkest Africa to Brooklands.
CHRYSLER CAR'S OUTSTANDING FEAT.
[Special Report to the Hongkong Telegraph.]
Y TIMES.
ON
PEGID
PET
MOBI
CAIRO
MOTORING SUPPLEMENT.
heavy car out of a bog, until finally with blistered. hands and tired bodies they again pressed forward. Happily, this was the only unto ward incident during that exciting night dash. With the dawn the strain became less and the day passed pleasantly enough-marred only by the advent of a swarm of multicoloured butterfiles that chok- ed the radiator...
the rond.
Through The Land of the Nile. At Rejaf swamps and sudd block- ed the road and compelled the travellers to take the Nile steamer to Khartoum. From that town they traversed rockbound and roadless desert to Abu Hamed, after which the road was good and permitted that a
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1929.
KWANGST'S ROAD DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES.
2,000 Miles of Modern Highways in Existence.
GOVERNMENT FAVOURS PROGRESSIVE POLICIES.
is
laid
A high average speed was main- tained from. Dodoma to Nairobi. That the Kwangal Government is of dirt road, (4) From Pokpak while the majority wero finisher Taking advantage of the racing fully alive to the importance of to Watlam, 30 miles of Macadam before October 1928, track surface of the Uranda roads, good road communication within road, (5) From Watlam to Pak-
There are three long roads under the Expedition averaged 40 miles the Province, is evidenced by the low, GB miles of macadam road, an hour from Tororo to Soroti and fact that during the last year or (6) From Nanning to Maming, construction. The first Is from a few hours later passed through two, no less than 2,000 miles of 40 miles of dirt road, (7) From Mingkang to Suilu, 60 miles of Kitgum in the Southern Soudan en modern highways imve been laid Lalpo to Chuanchow, 184 miles of dirt road, expected to be completor route for Rejaf and the end of down. This improvement of com- dirt road, (8) From Pinglo to about July, 1929; the second.
munications
of Chuanchow, 181 miles of dirt from Wachow to Hohsien, 95 miles proving 'immeasurable benefit in transport- road, (9) From Pinglo to Kwel of dirt road,, expected to be com- ing foodstuffs and merchandise,lin, 60 miles of dirt road, (10) pleted in July, 1929 and the third and in the development of miners1 From Pinglo to Lurchal, 150 miles from Hochih to Kwalchow Province resources, and in consequence, of dirt road, (11) From Ping-border, 90 miles of dirt road, ex- some hundreds of motor cars have yeung to Tatong, 90 miles of dirt/pected to be completed in about found their way into the Interior road, (12) From Luchow to Hung-July, 1929.
shun, 82 miles of dirt road, (13) Schemes have also been parts of Kwangal
It was reported some time ago From Kavelisten to Wallam, 67 down to build ronda connecting representative of the miles of riendam road; (14) From)Posch, in Kwangsl, with Yunnan visited Watlam to Luchwan, 77 miles of and also from Posch to Kweichow, of high speeds. Onwards they aped Kwangst Government along Egynt's rat-infested canal Hongkong with instructions to macadam road, (16) From Lung Engineers have also been sent out banks to Halfa, whence they had of purchase some 200 motor vehiclés, che do Mingklang, 60 miles of to servey the possibility of build- necessity to voynure to Shelial. The but it is also learned on good dirt road. Some of the above ing a road connecting Chungshan, road to Luxor lay through wild and authority that the deal has not pads were completed in 1927, in Kwangsi, with Hunan. barren mountains, passing within yet been completed. It is known, a atone's throw of the world-famed however, that the Government is Tombs of the Kings. Here the anxious to develop automobile within Ita Monarchs of Thebes were buried transportation
Quito a number of thousands of years ago, surrounded boundaries. by the splendour of carved and motor vehicles have been bought painted walls, gilded furniture and in Hongkong through the official bedecked in jewels, and precious representatives of Kwangal, and stones, A few miles distant they sent to various parts of the Pro- passed the titanic 7,000 year old vince, but in most cases, these ruins of the Temples of Karnak, vehicles are known to be cara pur-
through originally reached
an chased by Nanning and Wuchow nvenue of Sphinxes, of which many officials who desire to have them for their own use, and this should still stand.
not be confused with the Govern-
A Narrow Escape from Disaster.ment's purchasing scheme.
Thrille dogged the Expedition'a footsteps to the last minute. Ono
4
Buying in Hongkong.
1
The Jikohood is that the Govern-
of the most memorable occurred near Sohag when, while travelling ment will not only buy 200 ears, at high speed along the canal bank, but will shortly negotiate with to Chrysler struck soft foreign firms for the supply of patch of rubble and plung. come 150 passenger vehicles and All these details ed thirty feet down
em several tractors. ail bankment before it held talra will have boon dealt with at the culously when catastrophe seemed Reconstruction Conference which Inevitable. A halt was called atononed at Nanning on January 14t. The conference was.called to Solag for the night, and the next
décidé on all the construction morning the. Expedition set out
works to be accomplished during on the remaining 60 miles to 1929, and the resolutions were to Cairo, where they arrived late that include the Government's decision night.
to extend motor communication It is believed that
engineering ne.
Six Hours at Over a Mile a Minute.
to
ધ
Resuming their journey to activities. Alexandria, they embarked for sherlly after the conclusion of the Naples, and after a pleasurable run conference, through: Europe disembarked at prezentatives would be sent
to conclude Dover where they were met by a Hongkong again strong convoy of Chrysler owners vous motor vehicle deals,
J élicorted who, aid enthusiasm,
Need of Good Rond. them to London,
It is known that the greater part of Kwangai hoa great minerat in: fondstuff wealth, but because of the poor means of transportation it What could have been more ap-is often inaccessible from its most proprite to the satisfactory con-logical market, resulting frequently clusion of such an adventure than in direct, losa financially to. Mr. Bouwer's offer to lup Brook both the producer and consumers, lands track for over six hours at a It is on this account that the roads All the roada are minimum speed of six miles an were built, hour? Under official observation well drained and well-dragged, this gruelling test was carried out, and well-maintained in such a con- For hour after hour was heard the dition that it should be comfort- muffled roar of the Chrysler engine able for traffic at all seasons of 08 the car swept round the steeply the year. The roads are being banked track.
constructed along the line of ordinary earth roads or gravel Behind the wind-screen ant an im- roads. The roads projected will perturbable figure watching the be macadam or asphalt. There is concrete surface as the speedometer at present no under-ground needle recorded well over a mile drainage but side ditches. a minute. In a replenishment pit Wooden truse and steel truse men stood waiting for a warning bridges are in use. Culverta aro that the car would pull in on the wooden box or stone box, or next lap. Finally a staccato hoot concrete pipe. warned them, and as the Chrysler From the time Gerry Bouwer, as certain, sections were six feet natives who were continually will came to a sliding stop white-coated and his companions left from under water. With the aid of ing to assist when the car was in mechanics leapt into action. Thir- under the shade of Table Mountain sketch maps and a native guide, dificulties. It was only necessary ty seconds a minute, and the car was again shooting round the in their Chrysler "72" Sedan, to however, the Expedition was 'con- to approach the Headmen of any define the practicability of a motor ducted over a maze of roads now District for instant assistance to track. And so it went on. Motor Cars rond from Cape Town to Cairo, the being cleared to replace the present be forthcoming in the shape of 80 ing critics were dumbfounded at Travelling on a motor car one can public have followed their progress Falls Road. The new rend in yet or 10 woye, who would at once act this marvellous performance. Six reach with unabated interest. As they a series of tracks, rough, and deep under the orders of the motorists. sped over the saucer-rimmed in sand, covered with elephant, horizon of the Karroc, hundreds of grass growing to a height of ten well-wishes gathered to cheer them feet. For mile after mile thef
TOP PICTURE-Chrysler, crossing the Limpopo River. CENTRE. A team of donkeys
assisting the river crossing. LOWER-Getting the car out of a donga.
on their way. At Johannesburg, 6,000 people gave them a rousing send-ot on their departure for the North-in fact, all along the way intense interest was evinced in the Expedition, for the arduous and perilous nature of the undertaking is apparent.
EUROPE
AFRICA
ATLANTIC
OCYAN
INDIAN
હો.
Bus Companies Formed. Recently over a meore of bua companies have been formed In various cities of the Province with on run on the new roads,
Chuanchow, noar the hours at more than 62 miles per Kwangsi, by way of Liuehow, the our-the final lap at over. 73 industrial centre, and Kweilin, the Driven Back by Floods.
miles per hour and a flying half ancient capital of Kwangel.. With When the tourists were driven mile at over 82 miles per hour this the excaption, perchance, that onc back from the regular Malangali after 10,000 miles and still laden have to cross some of the streams route by 70 miles of flood on the with the impedimenta of the Ex-and creeks by derry boats which Bahura Flats, they found the only pedition! steamer capable of carrying the Chrysler up Lake Tanganyika, out
;
i
Mechanical Perfection.
4
of commission for the first time in In this 10,000 miles test years of
Bary.
are capable of taking more than one car over, it may be said that there is new a motor-road between Nanning and Chuanchow.
The New Roads,
MOTOR V. HORSE.
Morris Truck Wins.
J
nine months. This resulted in a service were crowded into sixteen
The following are some of the delay at Abercorn. There, on the weeks-weeks of brutal operation. Crossing the Limpopo.
very borders of Tanganyika, theyImagine a crankshaft turning mil-oade complated: (1) from Nan- It was at the Limpopó River that!
could obtain no Information of the lons upon millions of times; valves uing to Pingycung, 80 miles of the first delay occurred. For three
conditions North-due to lack of pounding pounding, pounding; pis-dirt road, (2) Fran Shan to le- hours the party waited for the pon-
lines of communication. With the tons flashing at the most wearing han, 127 mile of dirt road (3) toon, and watched the river slowly!
Fife line down, Abercorn was vir- of speeds; bearings, elutch, gear-From Pingle to Hohsien, 73 miles rising until there seemed every pos-
tually cut off from civilisation and box and back axle carrying en sibility of It becoming an impass
they lived in a strange state, of ormous burdens day after day, week luolation. The enforced halt, how after work. It is under expeting able torrent. Later, when thel crossing was attempted, fourteen
ever, was not valueless, for much conditions such as theso" that oil. donkeys could not haul the car to
valuable information was collected. plays a prominent or inglorious It is said that the difficulties of part, and the greatest tribute must the pontoon. As every minute was valuable, a flexible rubber pipe was
road-making in that part of the be paid to Mobiloil when it ig continent have been over-estimated, realised that the journey was During the past few months attached to the exhaust, a special cap fitted over the petrol tank,
and that the financial outlay re- completed without the neces experiments have been carried out quired is snjall compared with that | sity
for removing even a by the Hull Health Department to canvas bags placed over the dis-
which has been stated to bi neces-sparking plug. It is tributor cells, and rubber fittings
from ascertain the saving of motor re such outstanding achievements as fuse collection over that of horap over the pluga. By this means the car was enabled to travel in three
the voyage up Lake this that the public is able to guage drawn vehicles.
Five different takes of com- feet of water to the pontoon under Chrysler ploughed with its licavy Tanganyika, the Expedition took the superiority of the products em- its own power. As the party reload through axle-deep sand in soc the road from Kigomo and, al-ployed, and the choice of two of the mercial motor vehicles were tested, sumed their journey in Rhodesian ond gear. All day long grass seed though swamps skirted the track, most important factors of success and it was found that'n Morris- territory it rained heavily, and clogged the radiator, and frequent they reached Dodoma without mis-rested with the lubricating ofl and Commercial vehicle and a foreign rather than risk the unknown road stops wore necessary to poke it hop. Wishing to push on to Arusha also the tyres. Those responsible tractor were most suitable. in the dark, a halt was eniled at the out. As they pressed forward a with all possible speed, they left on for the tour left nothing to chance. It was furthermore discovered Police Post. Fortunately, the rain herd of elephant was encountered, the 270 mile journey as darkness Both Mobiloll and Dunlop Tyres that although the tractor effected ceased before they reached the which uprooted huve trees and was falling. Over rough mountain were insisted on, and the over-a raving of 91⁄2d, por ton mile over dreaded Mazunga Vloi the follow-threw a barrier of them across the trails, boulder strew and rain-whelming success of hazardous the horse, the Morris-Commercial ing day, and it was crossed com- road, and they had to move them croded, with turtuous bends and a venture was in no small men- truck saved 38., or 2d, more than paratively easily. Gwanda was before they could proceed. Shortly gradients dropping to the dreaded sure due to the excellence of these the tractor. then made safely, and Bulawayo afterwards, a troop of baboons black cotton soll of the plains be reached without further mishap, rushed down on them, but scatter low, the Chrysler, guided by its A rough journey to the Victoria. od in all directions at their ap- blazing headlight, mede good time, The midnight saw them digging Falls.
proach. At Bulawayo it was found that A pleasing feature of the journey feverishly. For two hours the in- the road to the Falls was impassable, to the Falls was the number of trepld motorists battled to get the
"After
products.
. Of the car itself, it is fitting to any that the Chrysler established itself as one of the most sturdy and reliable motor vehicles of to-day.
As a result of this test two Morris Commercial vehicles were bought by the Department, and it has been found that the cost in actual working is less than the test
Cost,
The Performance of Hupmobile's 1929 CENTURY SIX
Rises to Unprecedented Heights
We invite you to toku a Century Bix on a trial run. We want you to know the ability of this car. Drive it up the steepest hill, so if on the open road," Bee how comfortably it akimi along at highest speeds. Try it over the worst rond. Note the advantagen of the nine point, reinforced charais, Drive it in traffic. The cùm and løver systom of steering, ite unusually quick pick-up, and 4-wheel, steeldraulic brake action will supprise you.
Sole Agents:
Dragon Motor Livery Service Propriotor: C.F, PAU 24, Des Voeux Road Central Tel, 3552 and 482.
THE
MOTOR UNION
INSURANCE CO UP
Incorporated in England
(Under the auspices of the Antomoblie Association)
SPECIALISES IN MOTOR INSURANCE
LOCAL AGENTS, .
THE UNION TRADING Co., Ltd
York Building.
Phono C. 578.
Please phone C. 1474 for a free ride.
Just Arrived
NASH “100” Asroplane type engine, Twin Ignition, High Compression, Valve-in-head motor performance, the same onglus that carried Lindbergh over the Atiantio For introducing this wonderful new car, GREAT BEDUG. TION for 1 month.
Nash Standard Six 5 Seat Tourer Nash Advanced Bix 7 },
ELE, $2,200 EL.K. $8.200
·Price including Bumpors, spare tyre and all bost equipments.
Spare parts in stook. Prices of other models on application.
NASH
"400"
Letuls the World in Motor Car Value; WONG SIU WOON 21, Pottinger Street, Phone D. 1474 Service Station 76 Des Vaux Road CentralPhone 644
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