New-York tribune., 1918-09-29
Army Transport in
France Has 10000
Motor Trucks


Owners Conference at Detroit Lieuten-
ant Colonel Barrett Andrews, u S. 4,
Motor Transport Division, spoke on the
subject. "How Uncle Sam Uses His
Motor Trucks" Colonel Andrews gays
his hearers an array of facts concern-
ing the work ALREADY accomplished
along transport lines in France. He
stated the number of vehicles used by
cur first American Field Army was as
follows: 10000 trucks. 1900 passenger
cars. 24,250 motorcycles and $500
ambulances. These vehicles alone re-
qulre the entire attention of $4,000
men. IN other words, 10 per cent Of
our force is used in truck transporta-
ton work.
The great value of the truck, he said,
was never better shown than at Ver-
dun, where, had it not been for this
vehicle used for transport of men and
munitions, the city would early have
fallen to the Huns. The Boche had
shelled and destroyed three out of the
only four transport lines leading to
the city defences, but over the one road
escaping the enemy shells rumbled
$4,000 trucks a day and night for
twenty-elght days, carrying men and
supplies to the first line defences.
AS an example of the gigantic use Of
ammunition. he pointed out that NUM-
tions which had taken twenty-eight
days to transfer to the front line guns
mad been shot away in three days and
two nights. Colonel Andrews COM
mented that the war will have de.
veloped hundreds of thousands o.
trained and disciplined truck drivers
who will materially enrich this coun-
try's skilled labor after the war. He
made plea for the more mature and
experienced truck men Of America to
enter the truck transport service
abroad.
Canadian cities sent number Of
representatives to the conference. and
the Imperial Ministry of Munitions was
represented by Captain ~ B. Powell,
who came from his division headouar-
ters at Quebec.
The moving pictures taken under the
personal direction OF Harold P. Gould,
chairman of the conference, gave the
truck owners vivid example Of the
everyday truck transport problems and
showed in detail how these prob
blems are successfully solved by expert
traIhc men IN every phase of present
day truck transportation
Enthusiasm on the part of those n
attendance at the conference over is5
success marked the closing meeting Of
the last days session at the Board g
Commerce Auditorium. Hundreds a
truckoWners and operators, both laran
and small, from all parts of the Nidd }
West. attended.
Addresses illustrated by graphic NJ
ton pictures featured both afternoon
and evening sessions. Each address
was delivered by a well known traits
expert most experienced in his particu~
lar field of truck activity. In Detroit
Immediately following the address Of
welcome to the delegates by Mayor
Oscar B. Marx. the principal addresses
were on the following pertinent sub
Jects: Loading and Unloading Meth
DDS That Save Time" "Selecting and
Training Drivers" "Inspection and
Lowering Maintenance Costs" Bonus
Plans" "Finding True Costs of Ship
ping by Freight and Exnress." MO
olllZlng Americas Industrial Highways
Transport" and ~ 81 Good Roads Save
Money for shipper, Operator and Pub
The efforts of the Truck Owners
Conference have the active support OF
the Highways Transport Committee at
Washington, the fuel administration
and other government departments.
The State Highways Transport Com,
mlttee. of Michigan. was represente0
by State Chairman William E. Metzger.
who made an appeal for closer CO,
operation between Federal. state ard
civic bodies in the interest of better
highway transport facilities.
During the next ten months the
Truck Owners Conference staff WI
hold eighteen additional conferences N
as many Of the larger cities from coast
to coast. Buffalo is the next eity
scheduled for convention. 1t will take
place under the auspices of the Cham
ber of Commerce of that city on Oc-
tober 10 and II. Other cities in line for
conferences in the fall are Boston,
New YORK and Philadelphia.