The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-17
Milford and Bridgeport Drivers Singled Out For First Real Test of Motor Trucks As Supply Car riers - Now the Motor Truck Has Revolutionized the Practices of the Army.

How two Connecticut men per- formed. in the punitive expedition into Mexico, an exploit that rivals for dra- matic setting and heroism the immor- talized rides of Paul Revere and Phil Sheridan, was revealed here today through a meeting between A. L. Ri- ker, vice president of the Locomobils Company of America, and c. A. Wales of the sales department of the com- pany.
 The Connecticut heroes are James Lockwood of Milford. and Fred Lexow, formerly of Brooklyn, but Iatterly resident of Bridgeport. with his sister. Mrs. George B. Kristen, 1885 North avenue. Both are skilful automobile drivers.
 In relating the story of their ex- ploit, Wales asserts that the motor truck is now the salvation of the United States army for it has demon strated it's indispensability many times since the two Connecticut men, first showed what might be expected of 1t.
 Lockwood and Lexow drove two heavily loaded three ton Riker trucks s20 miles through 2 country which
 
 gasoline motor, in order to carry to Namiquipa, to the van of Pershing's punitive expedition tobacco for which the soldiers. long deprived of their smokes" were almost frantic. In eight days they were back at the base. having made trip of 700 miles in the face of obstacles that appalled, the veteran army officers. This they did in the middle of March. As a result, within few weeks a regular train service of motor trucks had been in- augurated through this waste coun- try, and now, Wales ayers, the un- usual thing Is for a motor train not to run on schedule.
 Wales came to Bridgeport today for brief visit at the Locomob1le plant, on his way back to Columbus. Like hundreds of others who have driven automobiles through the rough coun- try traversed by the troopers, he broke down, went to a hosuital. then came to his home in sStratford to rest. Now he is on the way to Washington. on the first leg of his trip back to Colum- bus, where he works in cooperation with the army officers handling prob- lems of motor truck transportation.
 Detailed by the Locomobile com pany to accompany one of its first shipments of trucks, Wales said that the Riker truck, three ton vehicle, was regarded as too large when it first arriye6s 5TDe army had q aleaping towards thS lighter vehicles, holding the one-and-onehalf ton truck to be the heaviest practicable for general use in the field.
 "But when those two Connecticut boys returned from their dash to Ma miquipa, there was another story" said Wales.
 Those boys had been used for heavy transportation work about Co., lumbus," said he 'The trucks were too heavy. the officers believed, to be sent far out into the trackfess country down there. But their weight was really a blessing, for they were able to tear through the scrub and make a path for themselves where lighter ve- hicles failed time after time."
 Wales explained that it is not good practice for the trucks to follow the same course. The country is covered with a cake through which the trucks continually break. He said that driv- ing a truck over the country there is about the same as driving for miles over street curbs.
 "Pershings advance column had reached Namiquipa, about 320 miles away from Columbus, on their hunt for Villa" said Wales. "when a radio gram came into headquarters an- nouncing that the supplies were rum ming low, and that the men were all out of tobacco. The soldiers were get ting nt-insubordinate, no doubt-for lack of their smokes It was this call that gave Lockwood and Lexow their chance.
 "They were anxious to make the trip, but the officers were dubious. After some hesitation, the order was given to load up two trucks with to- bacco and chocolate candy. Every pound of candy in Columbus was pur- chased. and the two trucks were piled high, one with $500 pounds; the other
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