The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-11-21
Mules
PROWESS WILL
STILL REMAIN
In the United States in Case
of War on Account of
Bad Roads.

/ a T.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Nov. The
American army mule need have no
fear for his laurels because Of the
great part gasoline motors have
played in transportation problems Of
European armies In the present war.
Until American roads generally ara
brought up to the high standard OF
the roads OF Germany, France, Bel
! gium and other European countries,
the army mule will determine through
his capacity for hauling, the limita.
ton of operations for American mill
tary forces.
Only one branch of the United
States army giving serious atten-
ton to morton traction, In the quar-
termaster's department experiments
are being made, particularly along
the Texas border, with handling sup.
plies In motor trucks. Motor trucks
are in general use, OF course, about
army posts and wherever good roads
are available; but when maneuyers
take the columns into the field and
the sandy or muddy country roads,
where mere wheel tracks across the
country are the only highways, the
six mile team is still master Of the
transportation situation.
A few years ago it was determined
to experiment with motor transpor-
alton as a means to increase the rad
ius of field artillery. The most avail
able subject for his purpose was the
batttry wagon, carrying the forges
for gun repairs and horse shoeing and
also the saddlers equipment. One
such wagon accompanies every bait
terry of ARTILLERY in the fed. 1t trails
along in the rear of thee olumn and
does not go into action. Thus its ac-
dvities are largely confined to roads
although the battery itself must go
CROSS lots by field and stream to take
positions against an approaching hos
tile force.
General Crozler, chief of the army
ordnance bureau, designed motor
battery wagon which was tried out in
maneuvers. 1t provtd fat failure
for 1t was so heavy that 1t broke
through bridges, sunk to the hubs in
soft roads and generally hampered
the battery to which 1t was attached.
The experiment was abandoned and
the ordnance bureau is now content
to await .the results Of the experi-
ments OF the quartermaster's DEPART
ment in self-propelled army transpor-
tation units. Mules and horses are
good enough for American artillery
men as yet
In connection with the newest
heavy Siege piece designed for the
American army it was proposed re-
Gently TO experiment with European
gasoline engines. Arrangements were
Under way for the importation Of one
of these at the time the European war
broke out. Now every engine of that
character has been turned to actual
use abroad and instead OF importing
automobiles or motor trucks, the,
United States is shipping them abroad
for the use of armies there.
IN many ways, army officers be-
lteye the present war will have lit
tie effect on the development Of
American military transportation
equipment. The armies Of Germany
France, and to some extent England
are equipped to fight in the highly
developed territory which is the
present theater of war. Transfer
them to the interior of the United
States and the greater part of their
motor equipment and much OF their.
heavy artillery would be found al
most useless. 1t is said They would
have to be re-equipped with horse
and mule transportation. The diff
1culties encountered by German
troops who crossed the Russian Dor
der, officers say, were those Of trans
.portation. Poor roads made it Inn
possible Tor them to move guns and
supplies as. their tactical training
directed. Several big guns were lost
without having fired shot, 1t is re-
ported, because they could not be
withdrawn swiftly.
The United States army employ 81
motorcycles to some extent for Or
derlfes carrying messages. Even
this is limited by road conditions.
however, and while suggestions for
motorcycle corps have been made. !
serious attention has not been given
to the subject as yet. A cavalry
horse still answers the purposes Of
the army better than any other
means Of communication by order
".