of this kind from time to time as they are released by the military authorities, even if hostilities have been brought to a close

The small tank shown in the accompanying drawing and photograph represents the outcome of improved tank tactics. These tactics, which have been been covered at length in a number of articles appearing in these columns for several months past, caused the abandonment of the heavier and larger British and French tanks in favor of the smaller type. Thus the big allied tanks, weighing in the neighborhood of 25 tons and carrying a crew of eight to ten men, were replaced early this year by the 'Whippet" tanks of the British and the "Renault" tanks of the French, both these types being small, two-man tanks, carrying a single machine gun or small cannon as compared with the four to six guns of the larger tanks.

Tank tactics are now based on the perfect coördination between tanks and infantry; and with the older, slower moving tanks it was found wellnigh impossible to keep these two arms moving in perfect unison. Again, the early tanks were cumbersome, difficult to maneuver, and withal, presented a more than fair mark to enemy gunners. Because of their size and the large crews required, the number of tanks available for an attack

SECTIONAL VIEW OF THE RENAULT OR SO-CALLED "BABY" TANK EMPLOYED BY THE FRENCH AND AMERICAN ARMIES IN THE CLOSING BATTLES OF THE GREAT WAR.

was strictly limited. Furthermore, in actual practice the power of the tank and its ability to crush enemy defences were found to be of secondary value only, since the main object is to carry guns, ammunition, and the

crew.

66

It remained for Louis Renault of Billancourt, France, to develop a fast Baby" tank to meet the new requirements. This he did, and fleets of his tanks made their appearance this spring, shortly after their counterparts, the British "Whippets," had scored new victories against the enemy. The Renaults were a success from the start, being adopted by the French army and later by the American forces fighting in France.

The Renault tank, as will be noted in the accompanying illustrations, consists primarily of an elongated armored body measuring about 13 feet in length, 61⁄2 feet in height, and a trifle over a yard in width, equipped with a set of caterpillar treads and a power plant. The armor varies from 5- to 3-inch in thickness, and is of a special chrome steel plate, capable of withstanding small-arms fire and the burst of small shells. The body is surmounted by a revolving turret which carries the single machine gun

or the 37 mm. (11⁄2-inch) cannon, with which the tank is armed. Some Renaults are provided with a short-barrel 75 mm. (3-inch) cannon, in which case the turret is rigid.

The interior of the Renault tank is divided into two compartmentsone for the crew and the other for the power plant. At the forward end sits the driver, with his feet resting on two of the three pedals which control the clutch, brake and accelerator. Three levers are close at hand, controlling the speed and the operation of each tractor belt. Standing immediately back of the driver is the gunner, who operates the gun in the revolving turret. A wide belt of strap serves as a seat for the gunner, who can turn the revolving turret and its gun to any point. Narrow slits, measuring-inch wide, afford sufficient vision for the driver and the gunner. Entrance to the tank is afforded by the opening of doors immediately in front of the driver's post. An emergency door is also available in the turret.

In the rear compartment is located the Renault engine, fuel tank, and oil tank; the radiator, which receives a constant stream of cold air by means of a special ventilator; and the other members of the power plant. The crank handle for starting the engine extends into the forward compartment, directly behind the gunner.

As for the caterpillar system, it is quite conventional in these days of farm tractors. The power of the engine is transmitted through a pair of large sprocket wheels to the belts, and the endless belts are supported by a system of idlers, rollers and springs as depicted in the photograph. For steering, the familiar method of varying the belt operation is followed; that is to say, if the tank is to turn to the right, for example, the right belt is disengaged from the power plant, whereupon the tank swings around the idle right belt which then acts as a pivot.

The little monster weighs in the neighborhood of 7 tons with its full equipment. It develops a speed of between six and seven miles on hour. While not as formidable a vehicle as the larger tanks, to be sure, the Renault readily shatters all forms of barbed-wire entanglements and solid brick walls.

As for the gymnastic feats of the Renault tank, it is reported that owing to the high tractive effort developed by its belts, together with the judicious placing of the center of gravity, it will climb a 120 per cent grade, or in the neighborhood of a 50 degree incline. This tank will pass through water 3 feet in depth. And because of the pointed front and the queer tail appendage, the Renault is perfectly at home in any sort of shell-torn terrain. It is seldom that such a tank becomes stuck or stalled even on the roughest journeys; about all that can happen to it is to topple over on its side when a mine or shell bursts close by and creates a crater, and then it is readily righted and again started on its way.-Scientific American, 30/11.

Nov. 7.-Fall of Tsingtau.
Nov. 10.-Emden sunk.

Nov. 21.-British occupied Basra.
Dec. 2.-Austrians in Belgrade.
Dec. 8.-Naval Battle off the Falk-
lands.

Dec. 14.-Serbians retook Belgrade. Dec. 16.-Germans bombarded W.

Dec. 18.-Hussein Kamel, Sultan of Egypt.

Dec. 24.-First Air Raid on En