The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-04
THE AUTOMOBILE
 FOR ARMY USE
Owens May Be Asked to Regis
 ter Machines In Department
BETTER ROADS NEEDED
Use of Automobiles in Army Maneuvers Wold Lead to General Improve ment of Public Roads All
 Over United States
By JONATHAN WINFIELD

By JONAIHAN
 Washington. September S.-(special)- J. Automobile owners in every section of the United States may perhaps be called upon to forego the pleasure of joy rides. long tours, or the comforts that ma chine brings them, If the war department succeeds in having enacted into law a scheme that Maj.-Gen Leonard Wood has given great deal of attention to recently
 While no immediate danger to automo- bile enthusiasts is expected from the war department. the possibility that war might some day develop in the United States when the question would imme- diately be brought to the attention of Congress, with dire results to the wear CTS of leather 1eggins and goggles.
 The scheme calls for a general regis tration at the war department of all au- tomobiles operated by private owners ev- anywhere in the country. For the sake of greater convenience to army officers this registration might be divided be- tween departmental commanders, of which there are at present nine within the territorial limits of the United States. Since under this arrangement the government could keep a close touch on all machines 1t is thought that If an emergency arises requiring quick trans portation of either men or supplies to a given point, 1t could be met with better advantage than under the old system of army transportation. | This is not the only use to which auto mobiles might be put in time Of war, for | it Is claimed that their value as part of the equipment of an army has been es- tablished beyond question.
 1 The army already has equipped num- Der of military stations with automo- piles. The results prove that they are essential to the proper fitting out of army corps The use to which they can be put are manifold staff work, courier, dispatch and general military routine, being part of the regular army work in | times of war.
 Hence, the need of the automobile has led high army officials to look upon facilities for obtaining automobiles in l time of war as essential to the useful ness of the army
 l Past experiences, in numbers of in- struction camps where militia have re- ceived lessons In the art of war have led officials to believe that automobile deal 1 CTS could not begin to supply the demand which the war department would make in the time of war Usually it has been found that dealer could not supply any machines at all on short notice for the reason that factories have been running OH A1rIa NJaft 1l,. into working shape the scheme that has been advanced, it has been put up to the war department that the only way to ob- tain machines would be from private owners TAiNTEsI
 Should the western coast of the United States be threatened the war department could telegraph the department com mander on the Pacific coast to assemble automobiles at a given place. Troops supplies could be rushed by train and thence transferred by machine to various encampments.
 On the field of battle and during actual hostilities, however, 1t Is thought that the greatest need of the automobile would be felt. While certain official business could be transacted by wireless and by land telegraph lines, other business of the same nature could be carried by swift machines. Good Roads Needed
 Naturally the contemplated use of ma chimes in the army has caused officials to advocate the building of good roads under the supervision of government en- l gineers, all over the United States Gen erally the matter has been taken up by states and not much improvement has been accomplished in this line In some sections. Should Congress approve of the scheme advanced by Ma1or-General Wood and strongly advocated by other officers of the army, general appropria- ton for road construction similar to | those passed every year by Congress for | the improvement of harbors and rivers Is expected
 1.-TWO of the essentials for the proper maintenance of the United States army | Improvements that are absolutely neces sary are the construction of good mili- tary roads in every section of the United States and the quick transportation of army supplies. In a measure we have solved the transportation problem, but We are woefuly lacking in proper road facil- | ities for the movement of large bodies of men, said Major-General Wood, dur ing an interview.
 Good roads would not only be of great benefit to the movement of an army corps." he said, "but would add also to l the general prosperity of the country. It would mean that in time of peace, farm CTS could bring their produce to market easily roads would be more greatly pat ronized by the travelling public and the | country would be more thickly settled. In certain sections of the country, the development of agricultural pursuits is handicaped by the lack of good roads.
 ''The quick transportation facilities of the army today are about as good as in other countries. We have excellent rail- road and township facilities, but what we lack Is a quick mode of transportation be- tween the terminals of railroads and the places of encampment of troops. This lack can only be overcome by the use of automobiles. With a nuncser of high class machines at the t<sposal of the war department, the difficulty would be overcome and the problem solved.
 Used in Europe
 In European countries, automobiles have, in great measure. superseded the horse and the army mule staff officers use the machines exclusively. Courier work, form division headquarters to com manders in the field, is carried on ex- clusively by machines. Their use is ab- solutely essential, from their point of view.
 Other officers of the United States army favor the use of the automobile
 Commissary officers as well as medical and telegraph officers, urge the adoption of the machine. In the commissary de- partment especially the use of the auto
 mobile as a means of transportation, is strongly urged.
 It Is pointed out also that the United ctates army would he greatly benefited