New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-20
Present War Demonstrate
ing Their Value in Trans
porting Supplies.
GASOLINE A BIG
FACTOR AS WELL
Germany Feeling Pinch, as 1t
Has No Natural Supply
from Which to Draw.

Any uncertainty about the great
fight in Europe being a gasolene war
was completely removed by Irwin S.
Cobb's recent interview with Lord
Kitchener, in which the English army
head inquired anxiously about the Ger
man supplies Of gssolene.
Germany's supply OF gasolene Is
necessarily imported, for there are no
natural oil wells in that country. Ben
zol, a substitute for gasolene, cannot
be made in large enough quantities.
England's present mastery Of the seas
precludes the possibility Of receiving
fresh supplies of gasolene from Amer
lea, except through Holland and the
Scandinavian countries, and these
sources are being rigidly supervised
as far as possible bv the fleets OF the
Allies. Russia's oil fields will natu-
rally be conserved for the use OF the
Cars subjects, unless Turkey can sue
coed in her campaign against batoum.
And the very fact that Germany per
suaded the Turks 10 enter the war at
this point is additional evidence or the
SUPREME importance OF gasolene sup
ply in a war waged under modern con
ditions.
How fast the world is moving is well
indicated by the trend Of recent wars.
The British Boer war in South Africa
witnessed the introduction OF motor
trucks on a small scale. although the
automobile was very much OF an ex
reriment in those DAYS. The recent
Balkan war emphasized the desirability
Of motors along q battle front extend
ing inward Of a hundred miles. The
present war leaves no doubt whatsoever
about the absolute necessity OF motor
trucks and automobiles.
The horse is already secondary in i'm
portance in modern warfare. hls cher
uses being for cavalry and for hauling
artillery. ammunition and supply wag-
ons. etc, when motor trucks cannot be
obtained. Under the ripors Of war
borses die in immense numbers. The
South African war. with less than 5OO,-
mo soldiers emploved. killed over 400
OOO horses on the British side alone, or
ROUGHLY, one horse for each man. In
the Furopean war there are about 10
00O mo soldiers under arms. One shud-
doris 70 think of the mortality in horses
il the British experience IN South Al
RIGA is reneated.
Il is begging the question TO say that
Euronean war conditions are rot as
eavere on horses as the Transvaal. Con-
Hrmation is afforded by the insistent
demand from Europe for motor trucks,
automobiles and gasolene. Horses, too.
are beine purchased bv the tens or
thousands. mainly for the use OF the
cavalry But the most ANXIOUS INQUIRIES
orc for motor trucks. The chief de-
mand however, Is for Quad trucks;
which because they drive, brake
eteer on all four wheels, can operi
On the actual firing line over the rough
est kind of country, in places even
whore horses cannot pull a load.
II IL SIGNIFICANT. in this connection.
that the United States army Is ranihiy
adding Ouads to its transport service.
Armored Ouads. and ordinary sunny
wagon Ouads are going into service
every month. There is no secre' anout
This among we'll INFORMED neonle' TOT
IL IL a fact that the U"itef states 70
far better prepared for defence against
foreign aggression than certain aiarih-
lists rive us credit Tor.
There are SIGNS. moreover, that IN
anita Of President Wilson's carefully
worded statement about depending
mon a citizen soldiery. the United
States regular enlisted army Will be
increased at an early date, probably to
The 2O5 OO0 men recommended by Major
General Wothprspoon in his tiral re.
mort when retiring as chief of staff or
the American army. II is not improo-
able, too. that by a system Of reserve
there will be provided mobile force
of 500 900 first line troops EQUIPPED Tor
a six months CAMPAIGN. This was also
recommended by the former army
chief.
But if this were done, the transpor-
tation equipment would be far. from
adequate. Only by a system of sub
sidv for army type Quad trucks. such
as obtains in Europe. could Uncle. Sam
provide AGAINST the contingency Of war.
into which we might be PLUNGED At any
time during the present disturbance
abroad. And we must not forget that
every horse killed In Europe and every
horse exported from America makes IL
lust that much more certain that our
next war, too, must needs be gaso-
lene war.