The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-04

With automobiles in use as delivery
wagons, as racing and pacing vehicles, as
carriages for collecting the mails and for
accomplishing many other purposes, it is
not strange that their proposed use on the
battlefield is discussed with considerable
interest. About two years ago Lieut..
JAMES A. Moss, OF the Twenty-tifth 1nfan-
try. sent detailed report to the War
Department OF a military bicycle expedition
from point In Montana to st. Louis, and
his report constituted a strong recommen-
dation Of the wheels use In actual warfare.
Now, according to the Chicago Daily Neus,
it Is proposed to experiment with the auto
mobile in order to determine what advan-
tages, IL any, are possessed by 1t over
tho bicycle and tho vehicles commonly
employed in war.
The Chicago newspapers report that Major
r. P. DAVIDSON, OF the Northwestern Mill
tary Academy, will start for Washington
on Sept. is with an automobile cannon
carriage carrying Colt automatic gum"
"This gun has just been completed by the Dur
YEAS of Peoria, Ill. It will be propelled by . six
horse power gasoline motor, and it's weight 10 about
1000 pounds. The cost will be something like
$1,000. 1t will have three rubbor-tred wheels, two
behind and one in front with seats over tho
axle for four gunners. side bars being
provided as on gun caisson, to which the
men may cling when the cannon carriage is driven
into action The gun is carried triangular frame
in front OF the seat with muzzle pointing forward.
that the gunners may operate It with the carriage
going thirty miles an hour. The bodywork Of this
vehicle has already been thoroughly tested, so that
neither Major DAVIDSON nor the manufacturers have
the least doubt that 1t will make the trip to WASH
inRton and draw up before the War Department with
a sage for Secretary Roor in as good condition
It was when the company started"
1t is said that 1000 rounds Of ammuni-
ton will accompany the gun, together with
"al of the necessary tools for repairing
breakdowns, some duplicate parts where
weakness is suspected, and a supply Of
gasoline sufficient to carry it for several
days" In addition. device will be at
tached by which the machine may be ex-
treated from bitches and other places in
surmountable by means OF its own power Of
propulsion.
Major DAVIDSON expects to prove that
the automobile would be Of very great
value for the purpose indicated. Some Of
tho advantages claimed for it are swift
ness Of locomotion, inconspicuousness, the
promptness with which it can be brought
into firing position, and the comparatively
| small cost Of its construction. Its rapidity
of movement would be one Of the strongest
| points in its favor. Another commendable
| feature, not possessed by the bicycle, is to
| be found in the fact that an automobile would
be likely to keep right side up under all
ordinary circumstances. Its serviceability,
moreover, would not depend upon the
strength Of its riders muscles and there
would be little danger OF a thief taking the
machine under his arm and making of with
it unseen. 1t is reasonable to suppose,
also. that it could not be Intercepted in it's
course as easily IA could bicycle, and that
IL it should fall into the hands OF persons
unskilcd in its management its usefulness
as an implement OF war would, to large
extent, disappear.
Tho experiment OF Major DAVIDSON will
be well worth observing. II he can de-
monstrate that distances usually covered in
a week in times OF war can be covered by
automobiles in about two days, and that
the machines arc trustworthy under most
conditions, his expedition to Washington
| will not be in vain.