The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-04-01
IMPROVED ROADS
IN MODERN WAR
Part Played by Highways an
important One.
MOTORS POTENT FACTORS.

In the Mobilization of Armies the
Country With the Best Roadways
Has Decided neutrality-suspicious.
biles Used In Almost Every Con-
eeivabIe Manner.
Since the outbreak Of the war which
has now involved most of the princi-
pal European powers news Of the op-
eratiOns of the forces engaged has
been lacking in detail, says the Good
Roads magazine. While annoying to
those in this country and elsewhere
who wish to follow events from day to
day, the rigid censorship that is re-
sponsible is doubtless a military neces-
sity.
In time. however, when the urgent
need for secrecy no longer exists. ac>
curate detailed accounts of the fight
ing will be published. and when they
appear it will be interesting to learn
what part Europe's improved roads
nave pldyeu III Tue war.
The mobility of fighting forces is
universally regarded by military ex-
perts as most potent factor in war
fare. Mobility depends upon the trans
portation facilities of the country
where the campaigns are conducted
and upon generalship capable Of utiliz
ing those facilities to the best possible
advantage. Highways and railroads
are the chief avenues of travel, and
the Importance of the highways as
compared with that of the railroads Is
probably greater in war than in peace.
for in campaigning both troops and
supplies must be continually moved
through country where railroad facili
ties are not to be had
Roads also have in added value in
the present war because of the very
great use which is being made Of mo
tor driven vehicles of one kind and an
other According to reports. automo-
bileS are being used in almost every
conceivable manner. Trucks are EN-
ployed to transport commiSsary and
other supplies. automobile ambulances
are used to remove the wounded. mo
torcarS of all descriptions carry OH
GERS and sometimes considerable bodies
of troops from place to place. and it IS
reported that automobiles carrying
rapid firing guns are employed in ac
tual fighting.
All this means that full advantage
is being taken of the different high
way systems of the countries in which
the war is being waged. for while it is
possible for infantry. cavalry. artillery
and even wagon trains to move cross
country. motor trucks and automobiles
except in certain kinds Of country
must he driven over roads.
The possession of a first class system
of good roads could hardly be decid-
ing factor in Il modern war. yet under
the conditions obtaining in the strug-
gle now in progress good roads must
be Of fully as much Importance us they
have been in any war recently waged.
|: is evident thHt when once ii country
is invaded its good roads are of as
great advantage to the enemy as to the
defenders. but in the mobilization OF
armies before the outbreak of hostili-
ties the country with the best roads
has IL very decided advantage.
American writer's us Il class have
been prone to dwell upon and perhaps
to overestimate the excellence of Euro
pean roads as contrasted to those of
this country and advocates of the par
ticilmtiun of the United States govern
meitt in road building have frequently
urged military considerations as argu
ments for such action For these rea
SONS added interest will attach to flu,
ture estimates of how much military
operations Uf the present war We're ia
cilitated 10y good roads.