The Washington herald., 1914-12-20

motor trucks and automobiles.
The horse is already secondary in
Importance in modern warfare. his
chief uses being for cavalry and for
hauling artillery. ammunition and sup
ply wagons. etc. when motor trucks
cannot be obtained. Under the rigors
of war horses die in immense numbers.
The South African war. with less than
100000 soldiers employed. killed over
400,0 900 horses on the British side alone
or. roughly one horse for each man. In
the European war there are about
/ .0O0.O 900 soldiers under arms. One
shudders to think of the mortality in
horses II the British experience in
South Africa is repeated!
1t is Logging the question to say
that European war conditions are not
as severe on horses as the Transvaal.
Sherman's definition OF war is as true
now as it was in 1S6l-65. Witness, for
example. the following passage from a
letter written by a German army Of
ficer in Belgium:
Our ill-fed horses are dropping to
the ground in an appalling manner, ex-
hausted with the strain they have had
to undergo"
Further confirmation is afforded by
the insistent demand from Europe for
motor trucks, automobiles. and gaso-
line. Horses, too, are being purchased
by the tens of thousands. mainly for
the use of the cavalry. But the most
anxious inquiries are for motor trucks.
The chief demand. however. is for
Quad trucks, which, because they drive,
bpake and steer on all four wheels.
can operate on the actual firing line
over the toughest kind OF country. in
places even where horses cannot pull
load
[. =. Army Buying QuadS.
II is significant. in this connection.
that the United States army is rapidly
adding ouads 10. its transport service.
Armored Quads, ana ordinary supply
wagon Quads are going into service
every month. There is no secret about
this among well-informed people, for
it is a fact that the United States is
far better prepared for defense against
foreign aggression than certain alarm
lists give US credit for.
There are signs, moreover, that in
spite of President Wilson's carefully
worded statement about depending
upon a citizen soldiery, the United
States regular enlisted army will be
increased at an early date, probably TO
the POS, 900 men recommended by Maj.
Gen. Wotherspoon in his final report
when retiring as Chief OF Stan of the
American army. II is not improbable,
too, that by a system of reserve there
will be provided a mobile force OF
100000 flrst-line troops equipped for
q six months campaign. This was also
recommended by the former army chief.
But II this were done, the transporta-
tion equipment would be far. from ade-
quate. Only by a system of subsidy for
army type Quad trucks, such as OBJ
tains in Europe, could Uncle Sam pro-
vide 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 II
Just that much more certain that our
next war, too. must needs be a gasoline
war. .s.s
The Jeffery Quad" which has been
adopted by the United States army, and
which Is now In use on the Mexican bor-
der, will be placed on exhibition here in
Washington soon, along with the COM
plete Jeffery line OF pleasure cars in
the new salesroom which Is being COM
pleted for the Coombs- Howard Company,
at Vermont avenue and II street north
west.