Evening star., 1915-11-14
TAX|CABS GREAT FACTORS
IN FRENCH WAR SERVICE
Have Enabled the Officials to Pre-
serve the Present Battle
Front.

Not until the European was is over,
in all probability. will France be fully
aware of the debt she owes to the Paris
omnibuses. Tricklings of news regard
ing the performance of these vehicles
since the start of hostilities have reach
ed this country from time to time, but
the full story has just begun to unfold
itself. For some months American
manufacturers have endeavored to OBJ
tain full history of these buses, but
it is only recently that accurate infor-
nation has been obtainable from de-
pendable French engineers, among
whom has been NJ de Freminville, chief
engineer of Panhard & Leuassor of
Paris, who has sent to the Internaf
Gear Drive Association of Detroit de-
scription of the work done
A great deal of praise has been given
the taxicabs of Paris fer their work at
the beginning of the battle of the
A1sne when they transported the army
or Paris to the front and landed it on
the German flank. In reality 1t was the
buses of Paris. 1000 of them, that did a
major part Of the work, running night
and day to accomplish the task set for
them.
At the first call to arms the Paris
omnlbuses were sent for. the call was
morning full thousand of them were
gathered at the appointed rendezvous
ready Tor army duty, supplies on board
and drivers in their places.
Reinforced Threatened Points.
The troops transported, the buses be-
gan the work of carrying men, cannon,
ammunition If all kinds and food sup
plies to the most advanced positions
Some were fitted with special bodies for
| carrying troops, and it has been due
largely to their quick work that the
| French generals have been able to re-
inforce threatened points in their lines
at critical times
portion of the buses have been used
In carrying meat to the firing lines
Ihey have transported an average OF
| $4,000 tons a month since the fighting
lines became somewhat firmly estab-
lished.
| In word, the buses have been one OF
| the greatest factors in enabling the
French war department to preserve the
present battle front. Their work COM
| pares in excellence with the famous
! los of the artillery division, even if i,
| is not so spectacular.
| All of the Paris buses are equipped
with internal-gear-dr driven axles, and
| according to the information furnished
| by NJ de Freminville have an average
mileage of $4,000 miles year. A driv.
ing pinion lasts for one year, and a
crown gear approximately three years
Should Interest Americans.
| This information should prove inter-
| esting to American truck manufacture
ers and users, as it is believed that the
| internal-gear-drive axle has reached a
higher state of development in this
country than abroad, mainly through
the use of finer materials for gears and
| other important parts.
Notwithstanding the wonderful work
| done in actual warfare, the Paris buses
have not reached their limit of useful
| ness in doing the valiant military serv-
| ice they have performed, for now they
are being utilized to repel the threat
ened commercial invasion. AS soon as
bus reaches condition where a gen.
eral overhauling is required-and it
must be remembered they have been
uninterruptedly in the field for over a
year-it is sold at auction to a private
| user and another misunderstanding
vehicle, duplicate. is placed in mill
tary service to replace it. In this man
| ner is France holding off the sale OF
American trucks in France.
Americans used 100000 punches of
hon in,