The Washington times., 1916-04-17
PLAN TO MOBILIZE
TRANSPORTFAC|L|T|ES
Meeting to Devise Scheme for
Cooperation Between Motor
interests and Railroads.

TRANSPORTATION preparedness will be
dipcusssd at a conference this evening
between o11cers Of the War College,
headed by Brig. Gen. Macomb, and Al-
fred Reeves. general manager Of the
National Automobile Chamber Of Com
merce. and Cooker #. Clarkson. general
manager of the Society of Automobile
Engineers.
Representatives of railroad and steam
ship transportation interests also are
expected to be present but the confer
cussion OF means whereby automobile
men may assist the Government quick
ly to- mobilize It's forces in time OF
Mr.. Reeves, of the National Automo-
bile Chamber of Commerce. already has
begun collection Of information as to
the number Of trucks owned by citizens
in various cities so that In case OF
emergency these trucks may be called
into quick use and mobilized wherever
needed.
Coordination Of Interests.
The conference concerns the general
plan Of coordination Of all transpor-
tation interests.
II not enough that plan for speedy
mobilization Of motor trucks In the diff
ferent States be agreed upon. but II is
essential that motor truck transporta-
ton be co-ordinated with railroad and
perhaps steamboat service, so that the
last word In efficiency would be possible
In case of emergency.
The work OF interesting the N. A.. G.
&. In this preparedness program has
been carried on by Howard Coffin. who
Is member Of the naval consulting
board, and Is devoting a great deal Of
time to this work.
NJ CofAn has diacuaaed the question
Of motor truck military transportation
with the War College, and as soon as
the n. A. c. c. authorized the creation
OF a department for this work, the War
College accepted the plan.
II is expected that the Society of
Autonobile Engineers win cooperate
In this work iE 80 far rs engineering
questions are concerned. The Society
In favor OF cooperating with the Gov
ernment OH questions of preparedness.
Besides compiling information on the
number OF motor trucks ir different
expected that the N. A. c. G. pre-
paredneSs plar will include a country
wido Organization plan for the possible
mobillZinC O! these vehicles into diff
fcrent diyls!onS, subdivisions etc. SO
plan will Rave teen perfected and moth
inC remain hut the ruttins into SER
Vice OF the vehicles.
In Convoy Order
The plan further contempiptes ar
ranging these trucks IN convoy order
according To makes. &c that In an ex-
igency II will bo possible to form q
convoy In any section Of the country
of thirty or forty trucks Of the same
make. This method Of convoy forma-
ton has proved most effective in Eu-
ropc.
II is further Ilanned TO arrange with
factories fer surr'ies Of spare parts
Tho actual shipping of these parts will
not be carried out. hut cnuuestionably
an invcniorr. of srare parts carried In
different parts OF the country will be
included.
The plan further embraces the organ
iZation OF factory repair crews In the
different truck factories. These crews
conld be organized and ready for trans
portation 81 short notice to any State
In the Union. Tho plans ;nclIde the
possibility Of Organization within the
crews to increase their effectiveness.