The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-09
THE AUTOMOBILE IN WAR.
military Value or the Proposed Lincoln
Highway Across the Continent.

To THE EDITOR or THE SuN--Sir: Your
extremely interesting editorial article in.
| creased Mobility in War" of September
is most timely ana appealing
IL occurs to me, however, that you have
| not carried your argument quite far
! enough. You refer to the chief instru-
ment OF increasing the mobility on land
| as the automobile. This In true where
highways suited to the use of this means
OF transportation have been developed
| This Is especially true in Germany. Bel
Rium. France and England. The lack OF
mobility OF the Russian army has been
ascribed by military experts to the de-
plorabis condition OF the roads OF that
country. Returning refugees report hav-
Ing seen the taxicabs and motor buses
OF Paris on the highways headed toward
the German and the Belgian frontier. tho
one loaded with troops fully ACQUIRED,
the other loaded either with commissary
stores or ammunition. &c. Such use ~
these vehicles would OF course he per
missiblo only where roads as excellent
as are the French roads exist.
The civil war in our own country
covered an area. In 40 far as the princi-
pal engagements were concerned, equal
TO about the area of the state of Illinois.
II took nearly four years to fight that
war. not because OF lack OF men, patriot
ism or other means for its prosecution.
'iiHN'lN l''blhS lllf idNl lildN lnt al Ill'S
of both the North and the South were
impeded in their movements by the de-
plorsbe condition OF the roads of Nir-
sinia- Pennsylvania, Maryland. &c.
| have had this brought home to me
forcibly during the present week here IN
Detroit, In talking with a number OF
veterans OF that war. They recte the
long waits in camp. waiting for the roads
TO become passable. In order that the
artillery and cavalry might move over
tho highways. while the infantry was
permitted to, and in many cases ala.
move over the open country, keeping
away from the highways
| wonder II II has occurred to you
that the manufacturers Of motor cars in
Detroit turn out each month enough cars
to transport n force OF $4,000 men. These
hgurcs are approximate. ! wonder II 4
has occurred to you what would happen
If there arose an urgent demand for a
quick mobilization OF the army and
volunteers on the Pacific coast. Those
railroads which can he termed transconu-
mental in character are all to very largo
extent single track. which would mean a
continued movement OF rolling stock In
one direction. which quickly would con-
gest any and all Of the terminal facilities
now provided
Consider for moment the strategic
value Of a highway following IN an almost
straight line from Philadelphia TO san
Francisco, a road following the natural
topography OF the country and conven-
lent TO practically 80 per cent. OF the
population OF the United States. and con-
venient TO those States In which are
owned practically &c per cent. of all OF
the registered motor cars OF the country.
II Is easy to see how valuable such n
road as has been suggested would be TO
the War Department in the event of such
a demand for mobilization.
few weeks ago your valued publica-
ton printed short editorial article sug-
gesting to the Federal Government the
desirabllty and the feasibility OF utilizing
the unemployed upon the Lincoln High
way. This highway mentioned by you
Is the one briefly described above. II IL
1889 miles in length from New York to
san Francisco. that road being eos miles
longer than the combined railroad mileage
OF the Pennsylvania the Chicago and
Northwestern. the Union Pacific and the
Southern Pacific. which roads to-day CON
stitute the most direct and the shortest
overland routes between the two cities
mentioned
Contained IN the foregoing there may
be thought worthy Of consideration.
A. r. PARDINGToN.
Nice-Presldent the Lincoln Highway.
DETROIT, Mich, September I.