Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-14

ing mighty part in the worlds
most stupendous war, but the
number of American machines shipped
into the war zone for military use can
not be determined with exactness. me
outgo of these cars continues, it would
seem. in steadily increasing numbers.
and the influence of the American ma
chine on the war will never be meas
ured, though it will be recorded in his
tory as immense. and perhaps decisive.
Late in September 1t was announced
from South Bethlehem, Pa. and pub
lished far and wide, that Charles M.
Schwab had secured a e-million-dol-
lar contract from Russia and France to
furnish 5000 armored and mounted
motor trucks for use in the war. 1t was
said at the time that the Bethlehem
steel works official would not give out
anything of the alleged contract be-
cause of orders of the State Depart
ment that Industrial concerns receiving
orders from European countries en-
gagged in war should avoid publicity as
far as possible. The additional infor-
nation was published that the first
consignment of motor trucks would be
$50. The publication of these state
nents was followed by den1als more or
less clear and emphatic. and dlplo-
reatic Questions were raised. and then
fo1lowed the publication of statements
that contracts for furnishing armed
snd armored automobiles for war puf-
noses had been relinquisheo
i
In October there was published from
,aws sources esteemed as generally
accurate and trustworthy the lnforma
t,on that American manufacturers OF
motor trucks had signed contracts Win
:. oents of the French government for
the speedy delivery of 1.76O big trucks
for use in the army. The contracts ag-
erepated. it was said. an initial ex-
nenditure of $6,O00,000. in addition to
which several million dollars would be
spent in the United States for extra
tires and other accessories. A list OF
the successful companies getting
share of this contract was published
and what purported to be the number
of automobiles or auto trucks winch
each would furnish. 1t was published
that 1.-The winning of the. contract was
a very good example of the initiative
and farsightedness of the American
motor truck manufacturers. The trucks
y
itv Of them will be sent abroad between
now and November l. This can be done
because two months ago when the war
began the manufacturers foresaW that
it would not be very lohg neiore Eu.
other varieties of automobiles. There
fore they laid in lumber for bodies and
a large supply of parts-factories
which in ordinary times would not be
nrenared to handle the contracts were
ready for anything that might come
and they will be ready for further Or
ders."
The building and shipment of auto
mobiles of various military types has
been a great stimulus to the Industry
in the United States and as naturally
would be the case the Canadian plants
for the construction of automobiles
and accessories and sundries nave peeh
working at capacity output
It has been chronicled that an auto
mobile trade expert has compiled sta
tistics. bringing the situation UP TO the
middle of February, that the govern,
Russia have bought total of 3.S4o
automobile trucks in this country since
the beginning of the war. The com
bined orders represent an approximate
ity is responsible for the estimate that
with the orders now pending and the
auxiliary equipment already delivered.
or for which orders are pending, the
equipment WHICH Will nave DecH uc-
Iivered to the belligerent powers by
American manufacturers by the end of
March will represent a total value of
approximately S15.000.000 which. of
course. includes tractors. tires and 9TH
err Items of auxiliary equipment.
Figures have been produced to show
that of the auto trucks already bought
in the United States by the allies
France has bought more than England
and Russia combined, France being
credited with the purchase of 2,54o. Rus
sia with $50 and Great Britain with $50.
OF the Russian trucks. it is said that
the first consignments were routed by
way of New York. and thence to
Archangel, when the latter port was
open to navigation. but that most of
them have been routed by the Pacific
coast ports to Vladivostok, and thence
by the Transsiberian railway to War
saw, where they were sent to the front.
Though no just estimate OF the situa-
ton of Germany is possible as to the
condition of her automobile transport
service. the opinion Of motormen IL that