Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-10-21
TRAINING DRIVERS
IN ENGLISH ARMY
War Department Instructs
in the Handling Of Supply
Trucks.
GRADED AS TO COMPETENCY
Growth of the Transport Serv-
ice Since Beginning OF
European War.

At the beginning OF the European
war England faced many difficulties
in providing transport service for the
mobilization of her expeditionary
force, bvt The experience gained since
1914 has enabled he British govern
inont to overcome these obstacles. In
August, 1914, the control of the
mechanical transport was removed
from the transport branch OF the war
office. and intrusted to separate
branch of the quartermaster generals
s,nff. For the reception and training
Of personnel two depots have been
established. In one of these depots
are all available men for mechanical
transport service, trained and un-
trained; and there are also there men
not Immediately available, for medical
and other reasons Recruits are re-
ceived there and supplied with cloth
ing and other necessaries. From
there they proceed to training oepUt.
ultimately returning when trained, be-
fore being posted to units. 1t is the
duty of this depot to supply trained
men to the depots at which mecnar.-
ical transport units are formed. and
thus there IS always there large
body of trained men, who continue
their training until ordered to join
units.
Recruits. on proceeding to the
training depot receive at first ten o.
fourteen days recruit training in
drill at a subdepot: they then undergo
q five weeks course of driving ana
technical instruction; this instruction
is given by staff composed partly OF
army instructors and partly of nlenf-
bers of the staff of the instructional
school of the London General Omni-
bus company. men who are round un-
suitable for driving or fitting beccrle
leaders and packers. Particular care
IL taken during the course to develop
character and a soldierly sense amvis
the men, and games and sports are
encouraged among them with this OBJ
ject On completion of the course
they are returned as trained men to
the depot from which they we're sent
a. recruits.
Vehicle Depot Established
The collection Of vehicles before al
lottiDg them to units is carried out IN
n manner similar to the collection -
men, depot has been established near
London where vehicles are received
from the manufacturers, and this de-
rot is responsible for supplying ve-
hices required bv mobilization Gepo;s
to complete mechanical transport
units for service overseas; there Is
thus no training of personnel carried
out here, the duty or the depot being
the receipt and dispatch of all classes
o. motor vehicles, including motor
cycles. During the first ten months
OF its existence. TINS depot TOOK ue-
livery from manufacturers of more
than eighteen times rs many vehicles
az were raised on the original mop,r-
2atlon in 1914. Chassis from Ameri
can manufacturers are received here,
and DESPATCHED to firms In England
for the fitting of coach work: but the
Use Of American vehicles is being re-
stricted, owing to the DELAY caused by
the necessity of so much handling II,
England. tbs depot has also been
responsible for the supply of a large
pumber Of vehicles TO the allies. IN.
work of bringing the men and the
vehicles together to form units is car
ried out at a depot about fifty miles
from the port of embarkation; men
arrive at this depot completely equip
ped and trained for service overseas,
and the work of the depot consists
solely in posting them to units, equip.
ping these units with vehicles, which
arrive ready for service In the same
way as the men, and passing them on
to the depot at the port of embarka
tion, whence, after n final inspection,
they proceed overseas.
Manufacturers Cooperate.
The Corporations of the war de-
yartment and the manufacturers has
produced n very satisfactory weekly
output from each manufacturer under
contract; the factories are under the
direct supervision of the inspectors
of the war department. who entirely
control the manufacturers' output ami
facilitate the supply OF raw materials
to firms carrying cut contracts. The
Introduction of the military servic,
acts made possible more efficient
organization OF mai power, and t.
abled the government to check consid-
cradle waste of labor The output OF
the British manufacturers Is not yet
equal to the demand. The supply OF
spare parts and tires is controlled by
depot in London. which Is respon-
sible. both for the organization OF thu
supply and for the issue to the troops;
separate stores exist in London for all
spare parts and rires; tools are supl
Piled thru the army ordnance depart
ment. There is also depot in Lon
don for the repair OF vehicles. but the
work Of repairing vehicles which hav.
become unserviccable on active ser,
vice Is principally carried out In the
bdse depots abroad.
The growth of mechanical trans
port since August. 1914. is we'll illus
trated by the following facts: In Oc-
tober. 1916. there were two hundred
snd twenty times as many vehicles
including motor lorries, motor cars,
nmbulances and motorcycles) In pos
session of the mechanical transport
as there were on the outbreak Of the
war.
Watch Out for Oklahoma.
g.sxs ola ut.x II