Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-05-18
U. 5. Army Short OF
Motors For Rapid
Transport In War
(Coptinued from Page One.)

the Mexican officers, who had been
trained in the military schools Of
Europe had picked up the idea Of mill
tary transports. The little green auto.
mobiles, with long wooden seats, which
could carry twelve Mexican soldiers
each would have hurried Mexican sol
diers around into spots where General
Funston might not have expected to
find them, and got them away again
before the Americans could lay either
their hands or their bullets on them.
This is not meant to say that the
American army is without gasoline land
transports. Perhaps the "war ex.
pcrts" in Mexico who advised the war
department MS to conditions there gave
i'll advice However, the fact remains
that General Funston was sent to Vera
Cruz without gasoline transports; and
the MeXicaus had automobile TRANSPORTS
that were fitted for Mexican roads.
Returning to the comparison between
the British aud the Vera Cruz Ameri'
can army, the lack of mules is notice
able with the British. The great Mis-.
Souri Jacks that outlast horse and
follow, like cows or sheep, the tinkling
bells Of their leaders, are only begin.
ming to be enlisted in the British
expedition. The British have plenty of
horses. In fact their army affords one
great and splendid horse show Of beau
tiful animals that have been developed
through their system Of racing. Amer
lean horses are not an uncommon sight
however hut they We got half brothers
at home, in Missouri, who would have
stood the journey over here just as well
as they did aud would have done hall
again as much work in the mud OF
Flanders. The great Flanders horses
famous throughout the world, are beau
tiful and strong. "But they haven Z
nerve" said an English army hostler
"When they get sick they give up the
fight and lay down and die, right
/ there"
This is 4 complaint that has neycl
been heard against the American army
mule, who is likely to kick n man tC
death while he's dying. On the Who'll,
the Missouri mule ought to be q prouC
possession Of the American army, ever
though he IN not SO speedy as gasoline
General Funston took plenty Of hin
to Vera Cruz together with the biz
army wagons that the American arm,
mule flirts around with,
The FLYING men with General Fuustol
at Vera Cruz belonged to the navy, no
to the army No one in the army fly
ing corps had any chance for practice
under war conditions Mt Vera Cruz
There were no spots around the Mex
lean seaport whcrc land machm
could have alghtcd and, OF necessity
the work was all done by water ma
chimes. In the British army, war flyinI
has been brought to It's highest Of
ricicncy, In pcacc times the Bhtishcr
were not going ont FOR long distanc
records like the Germans, or for fame,
| flying; they were quietly deyelopin
flying ns wartime talent And the rC
suits are now apparent
If the American FLYING man want
to equal his British brother he must b
ready to climb into IN eair in any win,
ready to climb into the air Ia any wine
must not stop him. There is n worl
" difference between those hot sun
T. mer davs at Fort Never in 1905, whe
the Wrghts were showing their m,
, chine TO the American army official
aud wouldn't 70 into the sky until a
} the flags were hanging limp in a win,
{ less air, aud these war days Of lal,
e when an English flying man flies
: tornOdoes, II necessary. There Is onl
Q one sort Of a day ON which the flyiu
i mon do not ascend and that Is the ia
on which the clouds hang low. This al