El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-05-12
TRUCK DRIVERS
GIVE SERVICES
Volunteer Companies Are
Formed in the East To
Aid in Army Work.

Great interest has been shown
throughout the country in the plans
/ for organizing volunteer motor trans
port companies as a measure Of pre-
paredness, to be in position TO render
aid to the army in the transportation
Of troops and supplies. Letters and
telephone messages have been pouring
into the office Of the volunteer motor
transportation committee, East
Forty second street. New York,
throughout the past week. asking for
further information and offering
whole hearted, patriotic cooperation
in the work.
Two distrnct lines of effort have
been undertaken by the committee.
The first and most Immediately i'm
portant is to assist the departmental
quartermaster at Governors island,
New York, in recruiting and examin-
ing about 400 experienced motor
truck men or automobile drivers in
the three sections Of the department
OF the east. who are needed at once to
man 40 motor truck companies that
are to be organized by the quarter
master general at Washin gton. The
men being enlisted include truck
They are now being enlisted and as
signed, but not called into service.
They are being enrolled in the quar-
termaster Enlisted reserve corps for a
period OF four years. They VIII all
bear the title of sergeant. and when
called into service the drivers viii
receive pay at the rate Of S36 a month
and be given subsistence clothing,
etc.
Roderiek Stevens, a member OF the
committee and now president of the
Motor Truck club, visited Boston 8
week ago, where a local committee
was organized to assist the army
headquarters at Boston for the north
eastern department, along similar
lines.
A similar committee and examining
board is also being organized in At
the quartermaster's office at army
headquarters at Charleston, s. C., for
the southeastern department recently
created.
These respective committees in the
three army departments will appoint
subcommittee and examining boards
in the cities in each department where
recruiting officers are located.
The secondary line Of work the
committee has undertaken Is the for
nation of volunteer motor companies,
particularly along the Atlantic gulf
dinate efforts and avoid duplication
and confusion. Representatives viii be
in the largest city OF cities
in each state. who will carry on the
work in their districts, appointing
CAPTAINS to organize motor truck,
motor car and motorcycle companies,
literature and receiving
reports from captains and keeping
records thereof. Appointment Of these
representative is now being made
and will be announced later. Circulars
describing the proper formation of
service that the companies will be
called upon to perform, together with
report blanks. etc, are now being pre-
pared and as soon as they are ready
will be mailed upon request.
II IS made very clear by the quar-
termaster generals office, that these
are purely volunteer companies and
that there IS no intention OF taking
over the trucks and cars OF citizen
owners for regular use in the army
Such service as the companies VIII
be called upon to perform Will prob
days, except in case of some unexpect-
ed emergency. Should the use OF the
trucks or cars be required for a larger
period, IL Is expected that the gov
eminent viii pay for their use. Men
OF the companies are not required 10
have any military training or knowl-
edge. but IL is desired that those who
are qualified and willing to enlist in
the quartermaster reserve corps
should apply for and become enlisted.
so that they can be called upon later
to man truck and car companies TO be
formed in connection with the new
federal army that is to be raised.
Gradually the formation OF volunteer
companies will be extended 10 interior
points and states.