Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-07-21
AUIOMORILE PATROL TORDEFENSE
0E UNITED STATES IS ADVOCATED

breakages because, while the cara
were designed for bad roads, they
could not withstand the strain Of 70.
ing where there were no roads, and
this was often necessary. Uncle Sam
has asnumber Of these ears on hand,
but officers Of the ordnance bureau
say they VIII purchase no more.
The second type was q genuine ar
mored car. but not adapted. II Is 4
high-poWered motor, OF q make known
for strength and ,sturdiness, but not
remarkable for great speed or q quick
pickup. Armof plating of suf-
ficient thickness TO stop rifle bullets
at any range formed the body and ran
up to q height 6f 10 fest. where II
was fashioned into turrel much
like the manhole 81 submarine.
The sides were pierced for machine
guns and small rams and the turret
was fitted with gun rest. There
was room In the turfet for two men
and gum All told, this car would
hold six men and three guns.
Objections to il Wefs its great
weight and height Il is t0o con-
spicuous and its ceater of gravity
is too high for meneIvering IN broken
ground with safety. While the engine
performed admirably and the car
stood up better than the small. iight.
mosquito cars, its defects were too
pronounced to secure ssrions conafd-
GRAFTON. 3
A third type, which eavs the most
satisfaction, was an open car ahout
the size and shape Of seven:pas-
senger touring car without the top.
The body was Of bulletfesisting steel
and was divided into compartments
for the guns when NOT in use, for gas
oline, for water and for tools and sup
plies. This type uf car was Sssr-
able, as It could be used for the traf1s-
portation OF machine guns with their
crews to strategic points, end it s.
also q fighting unit, rs there arc
gun mountings built into Il.
This type Of car represents an ex-
penditure Of about $4,e19. il has Il
speed Of so miles an Eo1r arc carries
eight men, four machine guns with
ammunition, spare parts, tools and an
emergency supply Of gas8li1e and
plenty Of water. It is equipped with
pneumatic tires.
TWENTY-FIVE hFadred Of these ears,
manned by Il, 900 men, would do more
toward making orr shores safe from
invasion than half q million infantry.
The first requisite for their e..
feetive use IL motor highway rms
ming parallel to the borders of the
United States in q gigantic ''U' from
Portland to Portland. "A highway on
the fourth side, the top OF Iha .Up
along the Canadian border while not
, defensive necessity, would prove Of
great value A considerable share OF
the Atlantic and Psc;fic seaboard Is
now paralleled by excellent reads.
These stretches could be linked up
at q reasonable expense. The same
IS true Of the Mexican border.
On the seacoast the patrols would
be In communication with marine OBJ
servation stations and with subma-
rine patrols. As our principal dam
ger Is from enemy Submarines. which
might load aeroplanes and explosives.
in some isolated cove for brief raids
on populous cities, II is necessary that
no part Of the coast be sIishted.
Four cars to each 25-Tniia block
means total Of 1,2S0 cars. Another
thousand could be kept in reserve 10
carry troops from central points