El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-05-20
AUTOS SPEEDING
UP MODERN WAR
Battle Lines Are Extended
For Thousands of Miles
By Motor Cars.
by JOHN BRISBEN WALKER.
From Motor magazine.

Napoleon regarded the science OF
loglstics as almost the entire art Of
war. TO move your armies rapidly
10 a striking point where your forces
will be more numerous than the
enemy's-that means victory.
SO it was that throughout France
and into the conquered territories. Ma
poleon constructed the magnificent
system OF highways which exist even
to the present day. over these high
ways he threw forward the armies
which had been centrated at Bou-
iogne and struck Prussia with a rap
ldity that decided that war within
few weeks.
Today. because Of the motor car. the
lines Of actual battle fronts have
stretched gu, out for 1000 miles More
than 100000 cars are engaged in main
tanning this battle front serving every
conceivable purpose.
They move. almost I'm a day, great
bodies OF troops over distances that
would formerly have required weeks
OF weary plodding. They carry the
wounded rapidly to the carefully built
hospitals lar I'm the rear They bring
up vast quantities Of ammunition.
They pull heavy guns that 500 men
could scarcely move
Future Is Seen.
From the first moment that an au-
ground at a speed OF 80 miles an hour.
The future Of the motor car was quite
clear to those engaged in its develop
ment- It would not only change the
art Of war. but would some day throw
urban populations into country life,
and eventually make the producer in
dependent OF mOuOpOlies, not only I'm
passenger, but in freight transporta-
ton. There were, Of course, in those
early days. endless difficulties OF me
chanical construction, but IL was GER
tain that all would be surmounted.
One Of the early cars built at the
pioneer factory Of the Mobile Company
Of America was intended to show the
usefulness Of the 'hOrseless carriage"
for military purposes This car was
like nothing before or since, but not
Undersigned, considering the uses for
which II was intended. Low. light
and strong, it had seats a la jaunting
car. for four troopers on either side
with storage for rifles, kits and food
supplies on the space between
The Mobile" was a steam car and
arrangements were made for cooking
by gasoline and drawing off hot water
for coffee at any stage. Of the Journey.
The car could be quickly converted in
10 an easy-riding ambulance and couid
carry from the field four or six
wounded men, with almost as much
comfort as an ambulance This car
was shown at the first automobile
show al Madison Square garden.
Garry Ammunition.
Furthermore this machine could
carry 1000 rounds Of ammunition, four
-iflemen, four rifles, two intrenching
shovels food for four men for three
days. four pairs Of blankets, two rub
ber shelters reaching down from the
sides OF the machine and enough oil
20 cover 200 miles
Almost the first thought IN connee-
tiDu with the newly invented motor
car. to one who had some familiarity
with military conditions. was; What
a machine for war purposes How in
feriOr would be the army confined TO
marching 0 or y miles a day to one
moving on automobiles and covering
200 or 300 miles Of distance in days
work. How fresh the troops riding
10 the battlefield on motor cars COM
pared with those. dragging their
How easy TO furnish an army with
provisions in wagons capable Of cover
ing distances with such rapidityl How
quickly the wounded could be carried
back to Established hospitals!
How easy TO concentrate numbers,
moving by power wagons upon exposed
positions Of the enemy, which could
be reinforced only by tramping troops!
What facility would be given to staff
officers carrying orders along the
Subject Of Jokes.
However, this first machine rather
furnished occasions for war depart
mental Jokes than Tor serious cOnsid-
GRAFTON. After a time I succeeded in
securing the acceptance or ndlI =
dozen officers, who. with the approval
of the war department, were to become
my guests. beginning at the Waldorf
IN New York and moving upon Wash
jngtou by easy automobile stages.
Finally, one bright morning, two
machines we're drawn up in front Of
tho Waldorf and several hundred
pounds OF baggage slowed away. Then.
after a comfortable breakfast the
marty took their places-a curious
crowd of some hundreds gathering to
see them Off Tt was the first test OF