The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-09-12
Gen. Wood Has Scheme to Draft
All Honk Cars

The scheme calls for a general reg
istration at the War Department of
all automobiles operated by private
owners everywhere in the country.
For the sake of greater convenience
to army officers this registration
might be divided between department
commanders of which there are at
present nine within the territorial
limits of the United States. Since
under this arrangement the govern
ment could keep close touch on all
machines, it is thought that if an
emergency arises requiring quick
transportation of either men or sup
plies to q given point, it could be met
with better advantage than under the
old system of army transportation.
This is not the only use to which
automobiles might be put in time OF
war, for'it is claimed that their value
as part of the equipment of an army
has been established beyond question,
The army already has equipped a
number of military stations with au-
tomobiles. The results prove that
they are essential to the proper fitting
out Of army corps. The uses to which
they can be put are manifold, stan
work, courier, dispatch and general
military routine being part of the reg
ular army work in times of war
Hence the need Of the automobile
has led high army officials to look
upon facilities for obtaining automo-
biles in time of war as essential to
the usefulness of the army.
Past experiences in numbers of in
stmchon camps where militia have
received lessons in the art of war
have led officials to believe that auto
mobile dealers could not begin to
supply the demand which the War De
partment would make in time of war.
Usually II has been found that deal
err could not supply any machines at
all on short notice for the reason that
factories have been running ahead on
all orders. Naturally TO put into
working shape the scheme that has
been advanced, 1t has been put up to
the War Department that the only
way to obtain machines would be
from private owners.
Should the western coast Of the
United States be threatened the War
Department could telegraph the de'
partment commander on the Pacific
coast to assemble automobiles at a
given place. Troops supplies could
be rushed by train, and thence trans
ferred by machine to various encamp-
ments.
On the field of battle and during
actual hostilities, however. It is
thought that the greatest need OF the
automobile would be felt While GER
tain official business could be tran,
sacted by wireless and by land tele
graph lines, other business OF the
same nature could be carried by swift
machines.
Naturally the contemplated use oil
machines In the army has caused
officials to advocate the building o
good roads under the supervision Of
government engineers all over tn,
United States. Generally the matter
has been taken up by states and moi
much Improvement has been accom-
pished in this line in some sections
Should Congress approve of thu
scheme advanced by Major Gen Woo,
and strongly advocated by other OH
GERS OF the army. n general appropri
alton for road construction similar {,
those passed every year by Congress
for the improvement OF harbors ant
rivers Is expected
1.-TWO OF the essentials for the Pre-
per maintenance OF theNUnited State
army, improvements that are absC
, lutely necessary, are the construction
q Of good military roads In every sec
ton OF the United States and tn
, quick transportation of army supplies
In q measure We have solved IN
p transportation problem, but we ar
woefully lacking In proper road faci
tiles for the movement OF large bodie
D OF men," said Major.Gen. Wood dul
l. ing an interview.
Good roads would not only be G
: great benefit TO the movement OF a
; army corps" he said, but would ad
A also TO the general prosperity OF tn
Z country. II would mean that In tim
2 OF peace. farmers could bring theI
4 produce TO market easily. roads woul
be more greatly patronized by IN
Z travelling public and the countr
Z would be more thiokly settled. I
I certain sections OF the country IN
Z development OF agricultural pursuit
= Is greatly handicapped by the lac
I OF good roads.
Z THE quick transportation facilltC
= OF the army today are about as goo
) MS In other countries. We have e
!, cellent railroad and steamship faoll
: ties. but what We lack Is qulc
\ mode OF transportation between N
8 terminals OF railroads and the plac,
) OF encampment OF troops. This lac
D can only be overcome by the use
automobiles. With n number of hie
= class machines nc the disposal OF n
, War Department the difficulty won
:. be overcome aud the problem solve
4 Tn European countries AUTOMOBILE,
nave In q great measure. superse
q ed the horse and the army mule. sta
Z officers use the machines excluslvei
Z Courier work, from division headqua
= ters to commanders In the field Il On
Z ried on exclusively by machine
Z Their use Il absolutely essential fro
4 their point OF view"
4 Other officers OF the United Stat
army favor the use OF the automohll
= Commissary officers as we'll as me,
cal and telegraph officers urge II
4 adoption OF the machine. In tho ca,
= mlssary department espociaiiv ii
y use OF the automobile as n means
. transportation Is strongly urged.
= II Is pointed ont also that the m
= ted states army would De greatly h