The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-09-10
IN THE SPORTING HIPPODROME
MOTOR TRUCKS in
MODERN WARFARE

An interesting experiment was re-
Gently tried by Major 9. c. Bailey,
quartermaster of the department of
the gulf. A White motor truck was
installed to transport provisions from
Chattanooga to Chickamauga, a dis
lance of some eleven miles. Owing to
the continuous rains, the road condi-
lions during much of the time were
unfavorabIe and yet the truck made
daily trips to Chattanooga and on
many occasions two and three trips.
The average time for the trip of TWEEN
ty-two miles was two and fourth
hours-the best average by army
teams, seven and half hours. 1t was
Napoleon who said, that he had sew
eral marshals who could plan and
bring to a successful issue a pitched
battle, but not one that could pro-
vision an army for ninety days cam
paign." In modern times we hear it
said that an army advances on it's
stomach, all Of which are but differ
ent ways of saying how important to
an army is the. commissary depart
ment, and what advantage the great
speed shown by the motor truck of
lCLS TIE 4udIAEILAldSLGI WIN has one
at his disposal
In fact so satisfactory to the army
officers was operation of the truck
that they stated that the one truck
easily replaced six mule teams of four
mules to the team. The up-keep ex-
penses Of course, was very much in it's
favor. After the demonstration of the
truck had progressed to a certain
point where it was said by many Of
the army officers to exceed all ex-
pectation, various other experiments
were tried.
For instance, during the army ma
neuvers the truck was used to dis
tribute ammunition to the gray army.
This work was started about o'clock
in the morning and completed at IL.
a demonstration of speed never before
accomplished in the army maneuvers.
it having been stated by the officer in
charge that six to eight mule teams,
at the greatest possible speed would
have required until or o'clock in
the afternoon. The advantage of the
speed in actual warfare is almost be-
yond Standardization meaning the
saving of a corps or the entire army
from defeat So great was the en-
thusiasm among the officers that it
was confidently stated by them that
1t would be but a very short time until
every army post in the country would
be equipped with at least one Of these
trucks.
Probably so few of us are In touch
with military affairs-because we
know SO little of the life and ambition
| of the regular army officers and men,
we are wont to think lightly of their
affairs and would pay but little heed to
the things they are trying to accom-
plish. But regardless of disregard
less of our Indifference the army is
making progress in the many fields of
endeavor where the staid business man
Is likely to feel that he is the pioneer.
Probably the same business man
would be shocked out of his COM
placency If he knew what the regular
army officers are doing. This idea is
best expressed in the words of a bril-
liant young officer who stated a few
days ago, that If the regular army is
not ready to cope with the business
progress, it is time for those in charge
of affairs to step down and out and
liAdh6 pAdSS AoI buSlISSS HELL II
might be added in parenthesis that
this young officer has no intention of
stepping down and out, as has been
evidenced by more than one product
of his effort.
Among the activities of the regular
army is the establishment by the gov
eminent Of the various training camps
scattered over the United States
where national guardsmen are given
competent instructions in actual war
maneuvers. One of the most interest
ing of these camps, especially from
its historical association is the one
located on the battlefield of Lookout
mountain, or more exactly, at Chicka-
maua park, near the regular army
post. Here for more than month