New-York tribune., 1916-07-02
SIADARD@LMalNY

merce proposed TO the government
10 train army men in their plants,
so as to familiarize them with me
gasolene engine and the construc.
ton Of the motor car and make them
capable Of handling the motors of
aeroplanos, trucks, and cars. Idls
offer was accepted. Ten men
month are TO be trained in each
plant, making a total of 500 month.
The course will last two months for
each man.
"In order 20 work for the motor
truck preparedness we are going %
zone the country and lay out de.
finite plan Of what each state vii
be required TO furnish in trucks and
men in connection with an army up
10 100000. This plan is 20 cove,
factories. automobile dealers and
individual owners Of trucks and il
concerns national preparedness over
and above the Mexican situation"
AS to the number OF trucks and
passenger automobiles that would
fc needed in the event Of a war with
Mexico, representatives of the auto
mobile industry have received no
definite information, and it is recog-
nized that a great deal would de-
pend on the lines Of development
the campaign would follow. Up 70
June 10 the War Department mad
bought 342 trucks to take care OF
the punitive expedition in Mexico.
Major Francis Lawton. of the
Commissary Department, L. S. A.,
in discussing this subject recently
before a meeting Of the Society -
Automobile Engineers in Philadel-
phia, said it was estimated that 4
division operating forty miles from
its base would require 30 trucks
if seventy-fve miles from its base,
100 trucks; if $50 miles, 240 trucks.
An army of 100000 men, he est
mated, would need 5000 one-and-a-
half-ton trucks. These estimates
refer 10 commissary supplies. II
trucks were employed to convey SOL
diers, as has been done in the Euro
pean war, a much larger number
would be required.
The Allies are making strong
efforts to supply their own motor
needs. Both England and France
have established embargoes against
import of passenger automobiles.
For these reasons il is thought tha,
the high tide of these foreign de-
mands has ebbed the industry N
this country. Thus the manufsct-
urers are in all the stronger posi-.
tion to quickly meet any demand
the War Department may make.
The ability Of the automobile in
dustry to deliver promptly has been
impressed on army men. Last WIN
ter the War Department advertised
for bids for ffty-four trucks. At the
time the bids were opened the Mex.
can situation had reached a stage
when the quickest possible delivery
was a matter Of the utmost impor'
tance. The two successful bidders
riyalled each other in seeing now
promptly this need could be met
Within twenty-four hours the tw'
sets OF trucks. twenty-seven IN eacn'
were on the way to the border. the
companies raising the men to oper'
ate them.
The Motor Truck Club OF liner.
lea has put under way plan where
by owners and users of motor trucks
will be organized into motor trans
port reserve corps to be placed a;
the service of the government when
called upon. The trucks will be or
ganized into convoy companies
trucks of similar size and capacity
TO be placed together. If the true,
be commandeered il is stipulated -
the blanks that the government shsl
pay for il at a valuation mutually
agreed upon, less depreciation ~
the time the offer was made. II y
also planned 10 have chautfeurs vol
unteer, so that there will be men fo'
the trucks when they are called our
Many members of the club have a.
ready signed the agreement.