Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-27
CONGRESS MAY
BRING ARMY TO
NEW STANDARD
United States Does Not Own a
Single Armored Auto
mobile.

WASHINGTON, Oct 27.--As 4 re-
suit o. the publication OF the facts
concerning the equipment Of the
United States army particularly the
fact that we do not own single
arnol'ed automobile for u.s. against
an invading force-the matter will be
taken UP by Congress this winter and
provision made for bringing tho
American army up nearer the stand
ara Of the European forces.
Thus doea the war of the world find
It's echo on this side Of the Atlantic.
Representative Daniel X. anthony,
Of kansaa. a member Of the House
committee on military affairs, in
formed me recently that he intends -
Introduce into the House a bill 10
have the United States army pur-
ehase armored automobiles as a regn-
lar arm OF the military service. Sew
eral other members Of the House
committed on military affairs have
kept a close watch on the war eff
dciency Of armored cars as described
IN the European dispatches and, ae-
eording to sentiment at the capitol.
The present war has demonstra ted
that this government can no longer
afford to be without this equipment.
Representative Anthony, who Is
particularly interested in the subject
ofsaImored cars, told me that IL was
his opinion that a number of these
modern iuggernauts Of war are abso-
lttely essential to the welfare of the
unitcd States and tho. maintenance
ri her position among the first nations
Of the world.
ITO my mind" said the congress-
man from Kansas. there can be no
doubt that an up-to-date army must
be equipped with armored automo-
biIes. The things that have been ac-
complshed through their use by both
the Germans and the allies have
demonstrated that as engines Of mod
ern warfare they are Indispensable.
This is strikingly so in connection
with all cavalry movements. Nobody
can question the advantage of hav-
ing fast-moving vehicles which can
carry fighting men and keep them
safe from rife fire.
II understand that one Of the ar
gurnents against the use OF these cars
in the United States is that the lay
OF our land Is not suitable TO their
pse. This, il seems to me, is an au-
the United States does offer more OBJ
stacles than that of Europe because
the present battlefield of the CONT
nent are network of improved high
ways: but there are many areas
where hostilities might take place in
shis country that are exactly suited
TO the use of the automobile. For in
stance, the improvements in road
construction through New York
and New England have so progressed
that the heaviest motor vehicle row
has unobstrueted progress all over
that country.
ut must DO remembered that an
armored car is not the ordinary tour
ing car. 1t Is not built. for instance,
with pneumatic tires and il can
traverse open and rough country With
facility. II can even so through the
panel Of fence without being
stopped and it can do away with the
efficiency OF barbed wire fences, OBJ
siructions which our troops ellcount-
cred with such fatality in the Span
ish-American War.
Properly equipped with a sufil-
GENTLY low speed the cars could
climb steadily up steep hills. Offering
absolute protection To their occupants
from rifle fire and ordinary machine
run shots, thus accomplishing
movement. which would be impossible
to cavalry, and throwing into the
enemy a deadly fusillade. Another
use Of the cars would be the hauling
of cannon and other equipment
across country under circumstances
which would ordinarily prevent the
transfer of the artillery.
"As q life-saviug device the
afnored automobile seems to me to
be one of the greatest war inYen-
lions. In a car of this nature four
men can be transported at high
rate OF speed to the point from
which the attack is to be made and
they can handle their rapid-fire ma
chine guns with practically no dang
er from hostile fire. It does not re-
duire much imagination TO realize
with what deadly efficiency one or
two hundred Of these ears could OPP
crate against the enemy. They would
be of prime Importance in protecting
q retreat because they could be so
CONSTRUCTED that their fire could be
directed from tho front or rear and,
being armored, they would form a
sort of moving fertiiication. a screen
behind which the retreatlng troops
could operate,
",rhe time may soon come when
much of the military work now done
by the horse will be accomplish ed
through the instrumentality of the
armored car, for arnored automo-
biles can pull greater weight
Than horses and can hold po-
sitions which would be impos-
sible for calvary to MAINTAIN
not to mention tho important fact
that automobiles don't get tired.
When this time does arrive it would
be q grave mistake to have this
country behind all others in such
valuable and essential equipment.