Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 240, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1917 — Call British Tanks “Willies.” [ARTICLE]

Call British Tanks “Willies.”

During the summer of 1916 an enemy agent, trying to tap the wires in England might have been mystified to pick up such messages as: “Twelve Willies reach you today,” or “Send tails for six females,” writes Col. E. Da Swinton In the World’s Work. “Willie,” a pet cognomen adopted as suitable for the telephone and Obviating the use of a code for telegrams, was suggested by the fact that the first experimental “Landship” completed, though equally malevolent, was smaller and less powerful for evil than Its Immediate successor, eventually the type adopted. When the two creatures were togther they gave the ludicrous Impression of being child and parent of a monstrous and evil brood. Hence, naturally, “Little Willie” and “felg Willie." The “Big Willies” were also somewhat unblologlcally classified as males and females, according to their armament. Incidentally, to help to conceal the destination of the tanks at the stage when any illusion as to their purpose was precluded, they were painted with the Inscription, “With Care. To Petrograd,” In large Russian characters.