Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-06-25
TRUCKS IMPORTANT
IN MODERN WARFARE
Rtsh Shipments Are Made to Border
To Aid Quick Movement
of Supplies.
SMITH F0RM-A.TRUCK IDEAL

That motor trucks are indispensable
for the quick movement Of supplies
IN modern warfare is shown by the
-ush shipments of trains of motor
trucks to the Mexican border in con-
nection with the expedition into Mex
leo for the capture Of Villa. The in
adequacy of mule-driven pack trains
evidenced itself the first day of mo-
Utilization, and several factories, for
patriotic reasons, suspended ship
ments to regular customers and
helped the government out with i'm
mediate shipment Of cars.
The Johnson-Danforth company,
local representative for the Smith
Form-a-Truck of Chicago, says that
the manufacturers of this attachment
thai telescopes the frame OF a Ford
-car and by providing stronger wheels,
springs, axles, etc, converts it into
truck with carrying capacity of 1000
to 5000 pounds, is urging upon Chi
cago motor truck users the formation
OF automobile reserve corps, such as
have already been organized in New
York and elsewhere, under the aus
pices of the national committee of
home defense motorists.
The plan is to enlist" firms which
operate trucks, the form of enlistment
feing practically contract to char
t-r the machines in the event of ma
tional need. 1t would provide for COM
pensation in full to the concerns.
Trucks of the, same make would be
grouped in separate companies. A
wrecking truck would then be avail
able for each company, which would
need to carry repair parts for only
one make. 1t is also suggested the
trucks be Of the same models in Or
der that special war bodies could be
made which would be interchange
able These war truck companies
might become adjuncts to the state
militia if it is nationalized.
Reserve Corps in Maryland.
Maryland, in 1912, passed an act
which created motor reserve corps.
Los Angeles county, California, some
twenty months ago formed motor
reserve organization. These move
ments have antedated the plan for
Matchmaking the idea. Mr. Johnson
cites arguments in favor of the plan.
"Of course, the Smith Form-a- Truck
device would be great help to the
government in the event of war, be-
cause in few hours ordinary Ford
cars, new or old, could be transformed
into one-ton trucks" he said. "A re-
serve supply of Smith Form-a- Trucks
would prove of immense advantage.
But heavier trucks are also demanded,
so it would be well to organize COM
panies of different makes and then
provide range of capacities.
Most of the members Of patriotic
societies are elderly people. Many
are well-to-do, but not personally able
to serve in defending the nation.
These men in large measure are
owners of motor trucks. The auto
mobile reserve corps, therefore, Of
fers these men their Opportunity to
serve the country periodically"
Action is, of course, necessary by
both congress and state legislatures
to make the plan practical.
Mr.. Johnson was most emphatic in
his claim for it of the original attach
ment which gives actual truck dimen-
Dions and truck parts to Ford car.
Recent so-called truck conversions
have been placed on the market, with
no view of taking care Of the over
load which they are to carry and the
results are most unsatisfactory.
The Smith Form-a-Truck reinforces
the Ford frame by four-inch chan
mel steel frame, braced by three heavy
cross members-the Ford frame act
Ing merely as a sub frame.