El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-08
ARMORED AUTOS
IN WAR ZONE
Hupmobile Manager Writes
of Exciting Times on
the Battlefields.
ToHN l. POOLE. Hupmoblle ezD'

ToHN L. POOLE. HupmobIe export
manager at Paris. tells Of some OF the
terrific conditions under which motor
cars are forced to travel during war time
Mr.. Poole arrived in France shortly after
the outbreak Of the war. He Immediately
received a commission from the French gov
eminent TO construct a number Of special
armored HupuFebiles equipped to carry a
Il millimeter mitrallieuse battery for rapid
fire work
''These armored HupmobiIes." writes Poole
from Paris, are used principally for recon
noitering work When detachment wishes
to find out just the exact position Of the
enemy their front, Of the HupunO-
bile armored scout cars is put into commits
sion This car. with a complement OF three
men, officers in charge, gunner and driver,
makes a hurried trip to the front and reports
conditions.
Again, when it is learned that the enemy
has commenced an aggressive forward move
ment. a number Of HupmObiles are rushed
out to cover the enemy's front and impede
their advance until troops can be sent J2
the battle lines. It is in this last phase OF
the work that the stamina and speed OF
the Hupmobiles has proved to great ad-
vantage.
Not long ago when at Calais inspecting
a squadron OF Hupmobiles, the commandant
in charge notified me that one Of the cars
was about to make trip to the enemy
lines. and asked II cared to join the
party. I was very glad Of the opportunity
started out
The car which was one OF the special
armored Hups. had its full complement Of
men, together with a big supply Of amuuni-
ton and extra petrol and oil, enough TO last
the entire journey.
THE journey TO Dunkirk was uneventful,
for the roads all along the way were guarded
by the French Upon leaving Dunkirk we
were forced TO abandon the highway and
had to cut out across a field which had
lately been the scene OF a big battle To
make matters worse rain had set in which
made the field well nigh impossible.
Ground Badly Cut
Deep ruts had been cut IN the ground by
the heavy artillery. the driver following
these as best he could thought we would
never reach the end Of this terrible field,
but the HupmObile ploWed through mag
nificently and at last reached good ROADS
f'Earthworks were thrown up on either
side Of the road that made driving very
difficult But the driver paid no more at
tention than il they were not there We
sped along at 40 miles an hour, over ruts,
railroad crossings. floundered in mud up TO
the axles. and thought the car would be
dashed TO pieces but the Hupmobile acted
wonderfully and at last we reached our
Full Speed in Dark.
THE drive back was made at night, with
only the side lamps burning. 1t is impossible
to describe the return trip During the
time we were in the enemy's territory we
had TO go fun speed ahead so as not 70
give the enemy a chance 10 stop US shud-
der 10 think what would have happened had
an earthwork been thrown up In 'front.'
.-The HupmobiIss in service here have
been highly praised by army officers. II you !
could but see the terrible treatment the I
cars are given over here you would reallHs !
far more than the strains Of ordi- !
nary driving. There is no speed limit, the
cars are driven fast as possible over al /
sorts Of roads and still the Hupmohiles hold !
m It's 2 tribute TO American manufac-
turing methods. Of which we should all iesi
proud"