The representatives of The Motor Cycle Magazine who went
over to France last Thursday in
connection with the International Six Days Trial were reported to have ‘had a most interesting if not exciting trip.’
After the announcement of the postponement of the
International six day trial the members of the party decided that they should
return to England immediately. This is how the story of their return journey
was reported:
A start was made on Sunday morning on the 500 mile trip to Havre, the
party having decided not to lose a moment. Railway crossings, of which there
are a large number in France, as well as the bridges, were guarded by
gendarmes, and the car was pulled up on many occasions and the occupants
interrogated as to their nationality and as to the nature of the baggage, the
presence of explosives being feared.
We had taken the precaution to display the emblems of the Entente Cordiale
on the car and many times they were recognised and enthusiastically cheered. The
increased vigilance of the authorities, however, impressed upon the party the
extremely serious nature of their position, and the probability of being cut off
in France should the Channel service be stopped, which it was anticipated would
be the case.
At Decize, where the party dined, it was resolved to continue
throughout the night by changing drivers and relying upon the Michelin Guide
and Baedeker for the route. Splendid progress was made, and, curious to relate,
during the night only once was the party challenged by a sentry. As dawn broke
cart loads of reservists from the county were encountered on their way to the mobilizing
centres, and twenty-four hours after the start the distance recorded was 415 miles.
But our petrol supply was now becoming exhausted, and many times our requests
for replenishments were met with a shake of the head.
At Dreux, however, our luck was
in, and once again we laid in a good store. How thankful we were that the
French roads were so straight ! Speed was quickened as daylight improved, but
now another trouble threatened the party, which, of course, was absolutely
reliant upon the car to see them safely through. It was feared that the ferry across the Loire
at Quillebeuf would be suspended, which fear was later discovered to be a well
timed one, and the route consequently changed to the longer stage via Evreux and
Rouen. Occasionally we were able to pick up scraps of war news, but the
alarmist reports were in the main proved later to be unfounded, but they served
to increase our determination to go through to Havre to avoid risk. The sentries were
not so much in evidence as the frontier was left behind, but the military
preparations were by no means relaxed. Havre' came in sight at last after
twenty-seven hours continuous running.
It was generally believed that Wednesday night's boat would be the
last across for some time, and, consequently, we fear that the remainder of the
British party may be subjected to great inconvenience, as nothing had been
heard of them when we left Havre. The boat on which the writer sailed was
stopped in the Channel on Wednesday morning while a torpedo Boat encircled her;
a pilot was taken aboard off South-sea to navigate the boat by a roundabout route
(it was said and believed to avoid the mines), and after many delays in the
Customs at Southampton, the train due at Waterloo at 9 a.m. got there at 3 p.m., and there was not a single
traveller who was not heartily glad to set foot on English soil again.
