The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-08-04
or UNDERWOOD
b HnOE9kooT

army enlisted men, detailed to drive the type OF
truck tentatively adopted. The others are chauf-
feurs of all sorts. adventurers from all over the
country, college men in search of experience, ana
ex-taxcab drivers from New York city. With
of the trucks under probation men from
the factories
1t is more picturesque body than any as
semblage OF mule sklnners. The types are more
varied and the views upon things in general are
more interesting. Moreover, the army chauffeur
in the aggregate is naturally more intelligent than
the mule skinner, whose close association with the
mule has given him of the traits of that noble
animal
To the average army chauffeur the stodlookng,
numbering auto truck Is n beautiful and living
thing.
On the road to Namiqupa l listened to a coored
sergeant of the Ninth cavalry who had been de-
tailed to drive IL fve-ton truck He addressing
his vehicle.
Eyes, Betsy, old girl" he saying "Ah knows
that this here cheap government gasoline amt the
proper nOurshmcnt for high-toned lady truck
like you. But when gets to Corallitas Ahm go
ing to put of that nice cool spring water in
your radiator. That' frcshcn you up "A whole lot
Betsy
"Docs you-all want little more oil in your bear
ings, Betsy? If you does, jes say Tain't no
trouble at all for me. All jes' thought you might
because your pretty engine was breathing little
hard on that last hill. All don't want any Of them
planning, Betsy, because me and you knows that
you don't complain"
The coored trooper adjusted pink and
green ribbon which was tied To the truck radiator.
The whistle of the truck master blew. The SER
geant whrled the crank, listened solictously for
instant TO his motor, and swung Betsy into line
with her mates
One of the difficulties which the captain of an
auto truck encounters is in maintaining discipline
with n mixed company of civilians and soldiers.
Civilian drivers have their own notions To how
auto trucks should be driven. Ii is the theory of
the captain that the auto train should have per-
feet alignment, with the trucks hundred yards
apart.
The civilian drivers cannot see the necessity for
this Some OF them want to show that their trucks
can travel the fastest. Others insist that their
trucks be carefully handled The result is that the
captain, fumng lnwardy, has to be diplomat
when he is In command of n mixed train Of trucks.
One of these trains started out at the rate of II
miles an hour. A short distance out of Columbus
it encountered bad roads new truck slowed
down ana began to pick the going.
The captain shot 'cross-country from the rear in
his standard runabout to see what was cutting his
train In two.
whats the trouble2" he demanded of the CT
william driver.
mo trouble at ALL" replied the driver. "But
eight miles is all that am going to do with this
load and over this sort Of road. You can 60 ahead
with those Barney Oldfelds If you want to. I'll
catch up with you after, half of those trains are
wrecked"
The captain was trine angry. lie reminded
the driver that all trains ordered kept intact
1t was no cross-country race. IL was n military
truck train. The driver obdurate and the
train had to slow down to a reasonable pace. The
driver right, though very unmiiSary The
loads which the trucks carrying were not
needed In hurry. But IL he had happened TO be