Evening star., 1917-04-29
COMMITTEE ORGANIZING
MOTOR TRUCK COMPANIES
Units for Army Service Being Form
ed by Volunteer Body-To
| Aid Recruiting.

The federal government is said to be
accepting offers of cooperation on the
part of the automobile industry. and
is recommending the immediate forma-
tion of as many volunteer motor truck
motor car and motor cycle companies
as possible in all of the Atlantic. gulf
and Pacific coast centers. as a measure
of preparedness for any emergency that
may arise. 1t is said. however. that the
government will not have to call cars
or trucks OF citizen owners for regular
army service.
The task OF directing this work has
been delegated to the volunteer motor
transport committee, consisting OF
Alfred Reeves, National Automo bile
A. G. Batchelder American Automoolle
Association; Coker F. Clarkson, So
ciety of Automobile Engineers: Ed
ward h Broadwen. motor and acces-
sorry manufacturer: Roderfck stephens.
Motor Truck Club of America, ana
shelby A. Falor. Federation OF Ameri-
can Motor Cyclists. This committee
will operate under the advisory COM
mission of the council of national de-
fense.
Will Aid Recruiting.
The committee will cooperate also
in recruiting competent drivers and
mechanics for the Enlisted Reserve
Corps of the quartermaster's depart
ment OF the armI. under the direc-
tion of Gen. H. S. Sharpe and Col.
Chauncey b. Baker of the Quarter
master Corps. Washington. Its work
will be to organize volunteer motor
companies in all states. and especially
In gpaCOaSt.
mittee will also obtain particulars OF
the roads for military purposes, espe-
cially with regard to their ability TO
carry heavy motor traffic.
Volunteer companies VIII include
the necessary officers. drivers and
mechanics, and will be used, when
occasion requires, for quickly moving
bodies of troops or supplies TO par
ticular points. Such service probably
will extend over only day or two at
later wish to enlist for military serv-
ice during the war Col. Baker says
that cars or trucks of citizen owners
will not be required by the army. as
the quartermaster's office will be able
to buy new equipment as fast as the
new and bigger army is organized.
Motor Transport Company.
A volunteer motor transport COM
pany, OF Wnicn nunQEeuS WILL DC Or
ganized. will consist in the case of
trucks Of the following: A captain.
who will have general supervision
over the organization; one truck mas
ter, three assistant truck masters, one
mechanic, two helpers, two cooks. one
watchman and thirty-three chauffeurs.
These men will bear titles from ser
geant, first class. to corporals and
privates, and will have charge of an
equipment of twen(y-seven cargo
trucks. preferably of the one and one
half and three-ton sizes; one repair
and kitchen truck. two oil and gaso-
line supply trucks and one motor car
and one light repair truck. The per-
sonnel may be increased by adding as
sistant chauffeurs and cooks when
needed.
Motor car and motor cycle COM
panies will be organized along similar
lines. this form of organization and
the regulations governing it being the
same for volunteer companies as for
motor companies in the regular army
at present. Three motor companies
will constitute a battalion, with q
major in command. For truck COM
panies the preference Is for ono and
one-half and three-ton trucks, al
though other types may be enlisted.
All types of passenger cars may be in
cluded in the car companies.