Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-14
MOTOR TRUCK SHOWS
EFFICIENCY FOR ARMY
One and One-Half Ton Four Wheel
Drive Jeffrey Undergoes
Test.

! A motor truck designed to meet the re-
| quirements of the United States Army
and eventually to supplant the army es-
cort wagon was demonstrated few days
ago before government and army officials
at Fort Myer, Va. The truck used in the
demonstration was one-and-one-half-
ton Jeffrey, with a 20 per cent overload of
iron. in accordance with the specifica-
tons of the government which called for
a truck of this capacity. The idea of the
government officials is to obtain a truck
that will go anywhere on its own power
where a four-mule team could pull a
load
The truck demonstrated was of the
four-Wteel-drive type. being equipped
with four-wheel steer and a four-wheel
brake. The four wheels are exactly alike
and interchangeable The four drive axles,
also the four brakes, the two axles, the
three diferentials and the propeller
shafts. The even distribution of power
makes possible this duplication of parts
which is said to simplify repairs and
maintenance of the truck
The truck has a wheel base of I25
inches and demonstrated that it could
turn in d forty. foot diameter this
being accomplished through the four
wheel steer. What is claimed as one of
the strongest features of the truck is
that the rear wheels follow in the same
tracks as the front wheels. The applica-
ton of the power-equal on all four
wheels and applied as 1t isis equivalent
TO the leverage eXerted on wheel at a
point equal to the diameter of the inter
nal gear of the wheel.
Made to Travel in Water.
The road clearance beneath the axles
IS hrteen and one-quarter inches. The
carburetor is set at a high level, which
VIII permit the truck to travel in water
Two feet deep On a recent demonstra-
tion the truck went through three feet of
water without putting the magnetic out
OF commission. BY means of the differ
entail. which automatically drives the
wheel which has traction coupled with
the four-wheel drive. the truck can be
propelled as long as there is any traction
whatever
At 10 o'clock last Tuesday morning
those invited to witness the demonstra-
tlon assembled at the Bureau of Ameri-
can Republics on 18th street and followed
the truck through the various maneuvers
in automobiles. In the party were Gen
c. F. Humphrey. Capt. Arthur Gran
ston. Col. Charles l. McCawley, in charge
of quartermaster's department United
States Marine Corps: Eduardo Racedo
Jr. 5econd secretary of the Argentine
embassy V" r. Metz, representing the
/ government printing office: w. r. Spill
| man. A. A. Fisher and w. l.. X. Bar
| rett of the Post Office Department: l.. F..
Eaton of the Department of Agriculture;
Thomas F. Scott. Whitney Leary, H. B.
Leary. jr.: Z. j. Black, Howard S. Fisk,
| l.. c. Chew and o. Eskuche. The gov
| eminent officials are members of the gen.
| eral supply committee. which purchases
all of the supplies for the federal gov
| eminent in this city, with the exception of
| the Post Office Department. which pur-
| chases direct for its own department.
/ The party proceeded through Potomac
| Park, where the truck went through
various demonstrations crossing ploughed
| fields. through mud holes up to the axles.
climbing over barricades of stone nearly
| three feet in height. and never faltering
moment throughout the test. The truck
| was then run over to Fort Myer, where
| II went up a - per cent dirt hill, soft
| from the recent rains, with twelve mem
bers of the inspecting party aboard, car
rying total weight of 5,S6S pounds.
| Other embankments were taken in the
| same manner of various grades. rsoS n
! lis ed.cI' undS.' ,pAc. rs -.