Arizona republican., 1914-09-14
MOTOR TRUCK USE
IN EUROPEAN WAR

Interesting light is thrown on ttee
methods adopted by the French and
German governments to substitute
motor trucks for military uses, by
| John n. WHY'S, president OF the Will
lys- Utility trucks. Mr.. WHY'S has
| just returned from London, England,
| where he remained several weeks al
ter leaving the continent shortly be-
| fore the actual opening of hostilI-
| ties
THE war lords of Europe early
foresaw the superiority of the motor
trucks over horse drawn vehicles as
a means of transportation says Mr.
| WHY'S. This statement is verified
by the precautions they took to re-
serve the right to use large batter
i les of heavy duty vehicles purchased
for commercial use by private indi-
v;duals or corporations. They real
lied that in case of war the manu-
| facture of automobiles on their side
of the Atlantic would be at Il stand
still. Consequently they adopted
measures to assure themselves of the
| proper motor equipment even under
such straits.
! The German army administration
was induced to take up the question
of motor truck transportation with >
| dual purpose in mind. The auth
critics desired TO secure an efficient
method of hauling supplies in the
event of war, and of preventing the
blockading of military roads with
horse drawn vehicles when they de
sired them open for the movements
of troops.
1T was practically impossible for
the army authorities to maintain a
sufficiently large quantity of uni
fo.m motor trucks, not only because
Of the initial cost of the vehicles out
also because of the impossibility Of
| keeping under the flag in times OF
peace a large enough number of
| skilled chauffeurs to operate the
/ trucks.
J These considerations led to the
| tender of subsidies of such substan-
| tial Importance as to encourage the
| purchase of motor trucks by private
| concerns under conditions which
would enable the government at any
| time to draft them for army pur-
poses with the certainty that in the
| meanwhile they would be kept in
perfect running condition and pro-
vided with a properly trained chauf-
| feur.
| In orde. that the trucks might lie
used without damage to the ordinary
roads and bridges of Germany, and
al the same time be available for tie
roads of neighboring countries which
| might possibly be invaded, trucks
We're prescribed which, when loaded,
ranged from two tons to five and a
half tons weight on the rear axle
None of the motors subsidized for
army use are less than 80 horsepow-
er. Trailers also are specified as
being particularly desirable for army
use.
The subvention for a single truck
amounts TO, the sum of $1,19O payable
as follows: A premium of s42S
upon purchase, followed by four an
nual premiums of $19O5O for the
maintenance Of each vehicle If
three or fiveton trailer is provided
with the truck the original premium
is raised to $714 with annual pay
ments of $685. each.
France has adopted much the
same method as that of Germany by
paying heavy premiums to truck pur-
chasers with the understanding that
they are to revert to the govern
ment for immediate use in case f
war.
Each year these trucks are sub
mitted to the military authorities BY
the various owners and an exhauG-
tive examination determines whethe-
or not they fulfill all of the govern
ment requirements. The truck mus.
be constructed entirely in France
and In factory where at least
three fifths of the working force are
french. 1t must be in commercial
use on French territory 1t must
conform in construction and equip
mcnt with the requirements laid
Gown by the French military ex-
perts. Upon complying with these
regulations the truck owner receives
bounty aggregating from s1O22 to
s1S72
In spite of these precautions
which have been carried on almost
since the inception of the moto-
truck industry, an alarming shortage
OF transportation facilities has been
1cund by the tremendous armies nov,
IN the field. Although the levies on
motor trucks have been followed by
feaVy drafts on horses, many more
trucks are still needed"