The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-10-26
THE HAsKIN LETTER
LAND BATTLE FLEETS
BY Frederick J. HasISin.


- y
War Is largely science OF Trans
portAtion, and, today 1t Is carried on
tQ the Accompaniment OF the meEy
chug-chug OF motor cars WINE tne
German army did not literally @11cap
through Belgium almost to xPars ano
then back again, nevertheless, the
wonderful speed and precision OF the
German advance and the Allies. re-
treat, and, In turn, OF the Allles ao-
vance and the German retreat We're
largely owing to the parts PLAYED Dy
the great motor vehicle CORPS OF eltn-
er army In their movement OF men
and stores.
War found the great armies OF Eu-
rope pretty thoroughly motorized.
with the declarations of hostility.
these vehicles were mobilized py tnou-
sands. One authority has It tnat more
than 10000 motor cars ana trucks
are being used by France alone, wn1le
estimates OF the German 1anu meet
are placed at between $4,000 and 6o,-
600. BY the process OF commandeer-
ing, 1t is said that Great 6rltan can
assemble at least lS,OuO motor We
htcles for the use OF ner armies. aus aus
tria and Russia nave llkeWlse g.v .e.a
careful attention to the motorlzatlon
Of their war establishments
The grim struggle for highest war
efficiency has been going on between
the great powers OF europe, Germany
France, England, Russia and Austria
Hungary, with eyer increasing sharp
ness for the last ten years. Mlltary
roads have been maae Deeesr anu t, De-,
ter, railways nave peen - q.
the strateg1Sts pont Oh az, =
way statlons nave peen Jun % S 1s
ton OF many unln,portant vlasss
likely to serve as bases OF WaEtlne
operations, natura Irenches nave
been accidently constructeo Nl
some future battleneld may ne anu
huge land meets OF motor xeuiSass
have been developer unuer lne as
ual appearance Oh conlia p1ESs,.. e -.
pleasure aids. ProDaDly' nearH ~
evrybody was JUST ABOUT reauy Mnn
the great war clouu Dl1Ae A.-, av-
France, Germany anu A I,lll Sc
eral years ago came 70 tue concl .i.
fon that the mule as menoeI VI lne
war fraternity was las. becoming oD-
solete; also the horse, IN nearly evsry
way except as cevaify n a1.ine, o n,a,.a.
parts Of the great war macnlnes were
being designed 10 "oLA. nhu az
rapidly than norsenesn OF mutensss
could keep pace WIN, anu ;1s -.
planned campaigns WHICH cait s ~ ~
pack trains making TON IollS VI ~.
enty miles DAY on occas ,Nu... in ,sss q
OF the ohtlme nve 70 WEI a. !, 80
Then, motor trucks Degan 70 unu
way into maneuVeIs, anu com Q
generals TOOK TO liInouslnes.
The aptness OF the motor truck was
proved in maneuyers. 1t MADE mucn
better time, and stood UP under the
strain as well as the army mule, or
better. France, 1t Is sa1d, lea the wy
fighting machine. She encouraseo
private individuals and firms to make
use of the motor-truck, establishing
subsidy system which would assure
to her armies large, ht fleets OF these
vehicles for wartime use Germany
and Austria followed earnestlY IN neF
lead. Private citizens ana business
firms have responded nobly 10 tnelr
governments encouragement, peace
time advantages were gained by them,
and, now, there are likely well over
10000 motor trucks, cars, ana trac-
tors chugging their way h1ther ana
thither over the battlehelds or Eu-
rope.
Besides the subsidized machines,
the governments were able to COM
mandeer thousands Of other motors.
One despatch from France stated that
within an hour after war had been
declared, more than 900 taxicabs and
several hundred motor buses OF Par
is had been Communicated, and put
to work moving troops. The des-
patches also stated that the German
hosts poured over the borders OF
France, their advance regiments In