The Washington herald., 1917-09-16
Automotive Unit Solves
transportation Problem
New Adjunct of Army Moves Guns, Ammu
milton and Supplies for "Sammies'
Now Abroad

Much has been printed from time to
time, regarding the important func-
tions performed by engineers in the
conduct of modern warfare. Perhaps
no fields of engineering are more inn
portant than those represented in the
Society Sf Automotive Engineers, and
this society has been and is perform
ing splendid service for the Federal
government.
Transportation in all its phases Is
of prime importance to every army,
and in several important branches Of
transport service the society Is rem
dering invaluable assistance. This in
cludes work having to do with the
design and construction of motor
trucks, tractors. airplanes, tanks. am
balances. motorcycles and other auto
motive apparatus propelled by internal
combustion engines.
For more than a year the society.
through its truck standards division
and many of its engineering members,
has been cooperating with the
Quartermaster Department in the
formulation Of specifications and de-
signs for military trucks. When the
Importance and possibilities Of this
work were fully realized it was ex-
tended to include even the smallest
detail and was taken over by the gov
ernment, members of the society still
cooperating effectively. No less than
fifty S. A. f. members are now located
in Washington, giving active assis-
tance and advice to the government
in the design of the military trucks.
What this means, can be appreciated
only by those who understand what a
mass of detail work is involved in
keeping fleets of trucks in operation.
and supplying new parts as required.
In connection with the aircraft pro-
gram, the society is cooperating IN
an equally effective manner. The
chairman of the aircraft production
board is a past president OF the so
ciety. and two of its four other civil
ian members are also prominent men,
bers of the society.
The chief of the aircraft engineering
division of the Signal Crops. the late
lamented Henry Souther, was also a
past president of the society, and in
each of the subdivisions of this Sec
tion the society is represented by at
least one member The sections in
eluded are aeroplane. inspection. power
plant. transport. design and expert
mentation. In cooperation with the
aircraft engineering division of the
Signal Corps and with the aircraft
production board are a very large
number of s. A. F.. members, some
holding positions of authority, and
others in a subordinate capacity. Still
others are entering as rapidly as the
need for additional men is made
known
AerOnautic Division.
Outside the organization of the gov
ernment. but in very close co-opera-
ton with it, the aeronautic division
of the Society of Automotive En-
gineers' standards committee is doing
excellent work. 1t has already, after
careful research. recommended nu-
merous standards. which are in turn
being adopted by the army and navy.
The standard U. s. a. aviation en-
gine has been designed by two we'll
known engineers. both of whom are
prominent members Of the society;
while associated with them in this
work are several other s. "A. E. men,
bers who will cooperate in the pro-
duction and testing of these engines.
In the ordnance department the
need for motorization of artillery and