The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-11-25
US. ARMY MULE NEED NOT FEAR
 MOTOR INVASION

Correspondence of Associated Press)
 Washington, Nov. 25.-The Ameri- can army mule need have fear for his laurels because of the great part gasoline motors have played in trans portation problems of European armies in the present war. Until American roads generally are brought up to the high standard of the roads of Germany, France, Belgium and other European countries, the army mule will determine through his ca pacity for hauling, the limitation of operations for American military forces.
 Only one branch of the United States army is giving serious atten- ton to motor traction. In the quar- termaster's department eexperim ents are being made, particularly along the Texas border, with handling supplies in motor trucks. Motor trucks are in general use, of course, about army posts and wherever good roads are available; but when maneuvres take the columns into the field and the sandy or muddy country roads, where mere wheel tracks across the coun- try are the only highways, the six mule team is still master of the trans portation situation.
 A few years ago it was determined to experiment. with motor transporta- ton as a means to increase the radius of field artillery. The most available subject for this purpose was the bat tery wagon, carrying the forges for gun repairs and horse shoeing and also the saddlers' equipment. One such wagon accompanies every bat terY of artillery in the Held. It trails along in the rear of the column and does not go into action. Thus it's ac- tivities are largely confined to roads although the battery itself must go 1af hx1sf fiQ1d an q kR positions against an approaching. hos tile force.
 General Crozier, chief of the army ordnance bureau,' designed motor battery wagon which was tried out in rnaneuvres. It proved flat failure for it was so heavy that it broke through bridges, sunk to the hubs in soft roads and generally hampered the battery to which it was attached. The experiment was abandoned and the ordnance bureau is now content to. await the results of the experiz ments of the quartermaster's depart ment in se1f-propelled army ctransp or tation units Mules and horses are good enough for American artillery men as yet.
 In connection with the newest heavy siege pieces designed for the American army it was proposed re- gently to experiment. with SEurop can
 
 1nents were under way for the impor- tation of one of these at the time the European war broke out. Now ey- cry engine of that character has been turned to actual use abroad and in- stead of importing automobiles or mo tor trucks, the United States is ship ping them abroad for the use of armies there.
 Tn many ways, army officers be- lieve, the present war will have lit tie effect on the development Of American military transportation equipment. The armies of Gernany, France, and to some. extent England are equipped to fight in the highly developed territory which is the pres ent theatre 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 almost use less, it is said. They would have to be re-equipped with horse and mule transportation The difficulties en- countered by German troops who crossed the Russian border. officers say. were those of transportation. Poor roads. made 1t impossible for them to move guns and supplies as their tactical training directed. Sew eral big guns were lost without hav- ingN fired a shot, it is reported, be- cause they could mot be withdrawn swiftly.
 The United States army employees motorcycles to some extent for or derlies carrying messages. Even this is limited by road conditions, how ever, and while suggestions for a mo- tocyc1e corps have been made, seri- ous 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 com 1nunication by orderly.