Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-10-08
TRUCKS ARE GREAT
AIDS TO ARMIES
Prove Their Work in Field
Hospital and Transport
tation Work.

report nudc by Donald Mcleod Lay
70 the Automobile regarding the uses
TO which these vehicles are being put
IN Eufppe is especially interesting at
this time
According 10 Mr.. Lay. practically
All Special army vehicles in Europe
twin pneumatic tires on the
~ with housing around them
broC\t as low as possible compati-
pie wlNl clearance IN some cases
pand tires are ntted on the front
Wheels without protection, the
wheels being either cast steel or steel
dsks. Other special machines are
motor work shops, aeroplane tenders
and treilers.
distinctive feature Of Italian con-
6ruction is the use of disk wheels
Tor trucks up to two-ton load. These
are detachable by unscrewing five or
Six nuts and are easy and cheap TO
construct, consisting of a stamped
steel disk riveter and welded to
steel rim.
The trucks most frequently used by
the Italian army are four-tonners,
while the smallest are One-ton trucks
on pneumatic tires, generally with
ftwi/ tires on the rear wheels. The
1/ian army employs a much greater
of pneumatic trucks than
Ytny other European army, due to the
adaptation Of touring chassis to truck
work instead of having special truck
designs. This arrangement is not
most economical, because all Italian
trucks are driven too fast and tire
upkeep is enormous
At the end of the first seven
weeks Of the war the motor trans
port service had Sc, tled down to bust
ness and the weaklings and insult
able types which were pressed into
service too hurricdly had been aban-
doned and replaced by new trucks
from the English factories, ClaSsifi-
cation Of the trucks had also been
made, so that IL was no longer neces-
sary for five mile per hour machines
10 keep pace with l2-mile per hour
vehicles.
Presents Small Target.
Originally the idea was to make use
pf motor trucks for carving supplies
from the rail head 10 a point a couple
of miles back of the firing line,
from which point distribution was
made to the men by horse-drnwn
wagons. Before October, 1914, this
system had been altered, the trucks
going right up to the firing line and
delivering direct to the men in the
trenches. This system exposed the
trucks to fire and caused several to
be lost, but the time gained was con
sidered sufficient justification for its
continuance.
motor convoy under fire is in
less danger than Il number of horse
drawn wagons, and, although the
trucks are far from bullet proof, II is
surprisingly difficult to put them out
of business. many Of those at the
front being speckled all over with
ehrapnel shot without having their
cunning qualities affected In the least.
Compared with the horse, the mod
ern motor Is a very small target, and
unless bullet strikes the cylinders
or goes through the radiator the ve-
hicle is not likely to be incapacitated.
Automobile captures We're rare in the
Garly part of the war. the vehicles be-
ing wrecked when II was necessary
20 abandon them.
AmbulanCcs Are Efficient.
Comparing the mobility of troops
and supplies where automobiles and
motor trucks are used instead of
railroad trains, 1t was stated in No
MEMBER, 1914, that ''it takes little to
disorganize u railroad, whilo IT Is
practically impossible to disorgaEize
automobile service"
BY the end of October, 1914, 1t was
reported that three thousand Ameri-
can built motor trucks had been
bought for war purposes by the bel
ligerent powers, the bulk OF these be-
Ing fitted with wagon bodies having
slices and tail board hinged TO swing
downward the sides being provided
with chains to hold them in "a hort
Eontal position and to make loading
hnd unloading easy.
The motor ambulance most gener
ally used early In the war was a 20
horsepower touring car chassis fitted
with large capacity canvas body
having mica windows. The body
was of sufficient size to carry four
stretchers in two tiers, leaving q
space down the center for the aIlbu
lance attendant.
The ambulance used by the Ameri-
gan ambulance corps in France did
excellent service. These consisted of
the standard chassis fitted with an
ambulance body of wood and canvas
capable Of receiving couple of army
type stretchers or to carry four
wounded men sitting, thus making
AIith the driver and attendant maxi
I\m load of six. For hlating these
IN Nold weather a section of stove
pipe. Mound with asbestos and with
the ends closed, was fitted around the
exhaust pipe, lead carrying the
heat to q grating In the floor of the
car.
Mobile Workshops.
Each division of the British army
motor service included three or four
motor workshops kept in the open
air garage at the depot town.
About so per cent of the truck
casualties were caused by trucks
humping into the machine ahead
when operating in convoy formation.
Radiator projections must be very
strong and fitted with powerful coil
springs, the ordinary type of bumper
being insufficient. Radiators on
arnsfed cars are especially vulner-
abZ points and should be protected
Ism bullets, collisions, etc, without
= ..Empairlng their cooling abilities. OF
~course other motor vehicles are likely
to be similarly injured and at least
some protection should be afforded
the radiators, especially If the ma
chimes are used anywhere near the
firing line.-Dallas News.