The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-12-28
)VER ARMY TRUCKS HERE.
SOLDIERS ARE ENTERTAINED BY CITI-
zENS-BOY SCOUT BAND ESCORT
THEM TO THIS CITY-LEFT AT 7
this MORNING FOR BALTIMORE.

destined for somewhere IN France
ana intended to aid in the defeat of
naIsef DlII the 29 grlm-lOOking army
trucks, manned by 80 husky soldier
boys IN khaki, the government motor
truck squadron, en- route from de-
trolt to Baltimore, reached here short
ly after ) o'clock yesterday and were
given a royal reception by the Local
committee, of which Rev. Edgar T.
head was chairman.
The squadron had no sooner arrived
than the men began making inquiries
as to the distance to Baltimore, and
particularly as to the roads and the
possible amount OF snow they would
encounter.
Rev. Read, chairman of the local
committee, met the squadron just out
side Westminster, and headed by the
Boy Scouts band, piloted them down
Main street to the Westminster Fire
mems Hall, where the ladies of the
committee had prepared a nice din
ner. Following the meal, the men were
welcomed in cordial address by Rev.
Mr.. Read, and were afterWard given
the freedom of the town and free ac-
cess to all the theaters and movie
shows in the town last night.
Capt Bennett Bronson, of the truck
convoy special, and who is in charge
of the squadron, together with Lieut..
G. A. Riley, the truck company COM
mander, spoke enCOuragingly OF the
trip from the Michigan city and of
the cordial welcome they had received
all along the route, with special en-
phasis on the cordiality and hospital
ity of the people of Maryland.
The men were snugly quar-
tered on the top floor of the Firemen's
Hall, for the night where they had
their cots and other sleeping para
phernalia spread out all over the large
floor space. The men appeared tired,
and many of them were ready for bed
and had turned in before 9 o'clock.
They started at o'clock this morning
on the last leg of the trip, which was
started more than three weeks ago,
and which has been attended by many
rough and exciting experiences. ,
In addition to the 29 trucks, the
squadron consists of one Dodge light
r truck, two Dodge passenger cars and
Cne Dodge ambulance car. Most of the
' trucks are Packards and some of them
? bear interesting inscriptions on the
= side curtains. Some of these are We
I Are Packards for Pershing, Back Us
Up, When We Get to France. Help to
+ Get Us Over There, AS We Are Badly
l Needed.
The appearance of the immense
. trucks parked on Main street from the
. Union National Bank TO the Fireman s
, Building, was that of a huge caterpil-
Ier and was the source of much ad-
I miration by those who witnesses
them The trucks are painted battle
5 ship gray, with the regulation arched
4 canves top, making them entirely
waterproof. To the casual observer
- the larger of the trucks appear as
: large as the average freight car, and
the movements are those of machinery
. capable of developing extraordinary
l power and endurance.
. The reception committee was COM
e posed of representatives of the Carroll
. county division of the Maryland CouR-
Gil of Defense and the Westmin ster
chapter of the Red Cross, and, incluG
ing Rev. Mr.. Read, was composed OF
' H. P Gorsuch, W. Frank Thomas, n.
: H. Harbaugh, Mrs. Thomas Robbins
and Mrs. Robert Shriver.