Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-01-27
Gasoline Motive Power Proved
Far Superior to the Old
Mule System.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 26.-The an
nux REPORT of the quartermaster-g gem
eral OF the army just submitted to the
secretary OF war contains an inter
,sting chapter about motor transport.
II sets forth In considerable detail
I that during the fiscal year 1917 a
large part OF the motor transport ac-
tlvties of the army was Confined to
the southern department.
During the period when the punt
tive expedition was operating In Mex
leo, the expedition was supplied al
most entirely by means OF motor
trucks. In addition to the troops In
Mexico those troops stationed along
the Mexican border were supplied by
motor trucks whenever the distances
were SO great as TO render animal
transport difficult or wherever the
roads were sa atisfactory or at all suit
able for truck transportation. This
experience rendered II possible for the
war department to pursue its inves-
tigations In the matter OF motor trnas-
port under conditions unusually fav-
orable for the development OF type
tary service.
As result, with the cooperation OF
truck manufacturers and engineers,
covering practically all the principal
makers and the principal corporations
In the country, valuable data were col
lected throughout the year and later
on utilized in the Standardization OF
trucks.
Thirteen differen tyes OF trucks
made by eight manufacturers were
sent into Mexico and along the border
AZ the time of the operation OF the
punitive expedition.
when the punitive expedition was
Withdrawn from Mexico a large num-
ber OF truck companies employed In
that section became surplus These
had been run constantly for n period
OF year or more, undergoing only
such repairs as Il was practica BILE TO
afford at short intervals while they
were laid up.
Shops established at Ei Paso and
San Antonio for maintAing these
trucks have been actively operated In
the rebuilding OF large number OF
trucks, and as truck companies have
beon rebuilt they have been distrlb-
uted TO various camps and canton
nients occupied by troops OF the ma
tional army. Their utilization at can
tonments has greatly decreased the
cost OF construction and upon compile
tion OF construction they have become
available for utilization by the troops
stationed at these points.
In March. 1917, the shops estab-
lished at the Columbus base, New
Mexico. were dismantied and the
transfer OF the machinery was COM
pleted In May. 1917. Since February
last, 567 trucks and "a motor cars
we're shipped from the southern de-
partments, all OF which were com |
pletely overhauled before shipment
was made.
Exhaustive tests OF trucks. tractors
and trailers have been made I'm the |
Big Bepd district from Maria, Texas. |
10 points 'on the Mexican border. vary |
Ing In distance from SO TO 12g miles |
over mountainous country. where
poor roads, steep grades and long1
stretches of'aand form combination |
10 demonstrate whether motor trans |
port would meet the government re-
luirements, Tests were made under |
ihe following conditions:
Trucks were leased 10 the quarter |
corps at nominal rental for |
\ period OF time necessary TO operate /
'ver a distance of 1000 miles
The quartermnsteE corps furnished |
ne necessary chauffeur ard services |
Tor the operation OF the truck, and |
provided oil, gasoline and other ma
erials.
Trucks we're maintained by the |
corps except that brob-
IN parts were replaced and changes In
construction made NJ the expense OF
he manufactures. The truck was de-
iyeredsio the quartermaster corps ut /
he point designated by the officer
the test. and returned to