Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-25
300 HUPPS USED BY ALLIES
Armored Motor Cars Given Rough
Usage in Reconnoitering Work
by the Warriors.
TRIP MADE TO OPPOSING LINES


The Hupp Motor Car company Is Just
IN receipt OF a letter from John L. poole,
Hupmobile export manager at Paris. in
which he tells OF some Of the terrible con-
ditions under which motor cars are
forced TO travel during war time.
Mr. Poole arrived in France shortly
after the outbreak of the war. He Inn
mediately received a commission from
the French government TO construct a
number Of special armored Hupmobiles
equipped TO carry n fourteen-millimeter
mitrailleuse battery for rapid firework.
The success Of the Hupmobiles was so
great that the military authorities placed
an order for n large quantity. According
TO Poole there are now enarly 300 Hup-
mobiles in uSo with the allied armies
These armored Hupmobiles," writes
Pools from Paris, ARE used principally
for accommodating work. When a detach-
ment wishes TO find out Just the exact
position Of the enemy on their 'front.' one
OF the Hupmobile armored scout cars is
put into commission. This car with a
complement Of three men officers in
charge gunner and driver make a hur-
ried trip to the front and reports condi-
tiOns.
Again when it is learned that the
enemy has commenced an aggressive
forward movement, number Of Hup-
mobiles are rushed out TO cover the
enemy's front and impede their advance
until tho troops can be sent to the battle
! lines. 1t is in this last phase Of the work
that the stamina and speed Of the Hup-
mobiles has proved TO great advantage.
w AZ fc
ing a squadron of Hupmobiles. the COM
mandant in charge notified me that one
Of the cars was about to make a trip to
the enemys lines. and asked me if I
cared to join the party. was very glad
of the opportunity of seeing a Hupmobile
in action and we started out.
The car, which was one of the special
armored Hups. had its full complement OF
men, together with big supply Of am
mutton and extra petrol and oil, enough
to last the entire journey.
Traverses Former battlefield.
The journey to Dunkirk was unevent-
full for the roads all along the way wero
guarded by the French. Upon leaving
Dunkirk we were forced to abandon the
highway and had. to cut across a field
which Ind lately been the scene of a big
10 tudhe matters worse n ram
had set in which made the field well
nigh impossible.
Deep ruts had been cut In the ground
by the heavy artillery, the driver follow
ing these al best he could. ! thought we
would never reach the end of this ter
rible field, but the Hupmobile plowed
through and at last reached good roads.
"Earthworks were thrown up on either
side of the road that made driving very
difficult. But the driver paid no more
attention than IL they were not there
We sped along at forty miles an hour
over ruts, railroad crossings, noundered
in mud up to the axles.
The drive back was made at night.
with only the side lamps burning. 1t is
ir1posfible to describe the return trip
During the time we were in the enemy,
territory we had to go full speed ahead
50 as not 70 give the enemy a chance to
stop pts.sa Il shudder to think what would
have! happened 8 had an earthwork besr
t'rowR up In front OF us"