Telpherage

TELPHERAGE. During the World War the Italian Army made extensive use of the telpher (see MONO-RAILS AND TEL PHERS) system of transport for fighting in the Alps. It had prev iously been thought impossible to conduct military operations on the high peaks, but the early days of the war saw whole com panies of men clinging hand and foot to the rocky summits. The building of roads could not always meet the requirements of troops operating in Alpine districts. Wire railways or "telphers" were provided, thus economising time, labour and oil, and avoid ing congestion of roads. These telphers are a kind of suspension railway. A double metal cable called "bearer" is extended on trestles placed in a straight line at different distances on the sides of the mountain. There are two stations, one at the starting point and the other at the end of the line. In one of these stations there is a motor which works an endless cable (the "drawer") to which are fixed two or more small wagons. The cable turns and draws the wagons supported by the "bearer" cable by means of small wheels which run on it.

I.

Telefori.—These were provisional lines moved by man power and used in the most advanced zones to supply isolated posts or trenches. Their average length was Soo metres and each

could carry about 5o quintals a day.

2. Dismountable Teleferiche.

These were run by motors and were put up in advanced zones. Their average length was from r,000 to 2,000 metres, and each could carry from io to 20 quintals an hour. They could be dismounted and were portable.

3. Permanent Teleferiche.

These were run by motors and were fixed. They were employed at some distance from the lines, and reached a maximum length of 8,000 metres. They could carry about 150 quintals per hour. The telphers covered on an average a rise of 65o metres from the starting-point to that of arrival; but in some cases even 1,5oo. The trestles were often at very great distances from one another and placed on peaks, while the wagons ran over fearful abysses. In the highest regions the lines often ran at a height of 2,000 to 3,00o metres; a few were installed even at 3,500 metres above sea-level. The telpherage lines laid on the Italian front transported in all 33,000,00o quintals, the load of 330,00o railway trucks.