The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-03-09
$4,000 CARS FOR
GUARDING COAST
Defeating Sudden Raid by Enemy
Depends Partly on Motor
Transportation

BY Eugene M. Travis, state controller
The use of motor cars in the Euro
pean war and in the Mexican cam
/, paign has taught many useful les
sons and suggested interesting ideas.
The possibility Of defeating sudden
raid fthe enemy along approximate
" 10000 miles of coast of the United
States depends very largely not only
on the number of men who could be
concentrated at given point, but
also upon the rapidity of this con-
centration. The truth of this state
ment must be obvious when 1t Is con-
sidered that II hostile force landed
on our shores a few hours after a
declaration of war, it might do so
and, after a march of a few miles in
land it could construct sufficiently
effective trenches to render itself
safe against sudden attacks and in
fantry fire, greatly increasing the diff
fculty of defeating it.
Again, were the enemy able to ad-
vance further inland, selling on its
way some cities or villages where
supplies could be obtained, it might
be very difficult indeed to eject the
raiders if in large numbers, or ar
rest their progress, without an over
whelming superior force. But II, on
the other hand, a hostile fleet with
it's transports were signaled to be
present off a possible landing place,
rapid concentration of even few
thousand infantry and few bat
teries could take place, and not only
would such a landing be very much
more difficult and prolonged, but it
might be prevented altogether.
Now to get 'roops rapidly to the
coast either railways or motor cars
must obviously be used, and whereas
it is undeniable/ that for very long
distances the railways might be as
rapid a means of conveyance, never
theless, motor cars could transport
troops more quickly to any strate-
gical point on the coast than would
be possible with the best arrange
ments capable of being made by the
railways. 1t is clear, therefore, that
the utilization of morton transports
for mobilization is matter which
should be given more attention in
this country Formerly they were
used largely for staff purposes, but
durin gthe present European strug-
gle their efficiency has been suffici-
emily demonstrated to warrant i'm
mediate adoption here as the first
step in the national preparedness
campaign.
A prompt organization, however,
of individual motors in this country,
numbering as they do at present over
100000 owners, would probably be
best enlisted thru the agency of the
clubs, especially now when the feel
ing of patriotism and of the need Of
preparation for national defense
everywhere runs high. AS to the
possibility of collecting large num-
Der of cars for immediate use on
Long Island and along the Jersey
coast, there are at present in New
York City and it's immediate vicinity
nearly 100000 registered machines,
one-third of which are owned by New
Workers. Nearly all Of these cars
are capable of being used for trans
porting armed forces so that it may
be said that if only 10 per cent OF
these were suddenly enlisted and SO
organized as to be of use within
few hours, in case of being called
out at a time of national emergency,
it would not be very heavy tax