The sun., 1919-02-02
ROLE IN WAR PLAYED
BY AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS


the chairman and most OF its members
so far Is this country was concerned. be
ing members Of the society whose ey-
perience had been gained in serving on
the s. A. f. standards committee.
The International Aircraft Standa IDS
Board made a trip to Europe early in
1911 and laid the foundation for inter
national cooperation in aircraft star
dardization matters. This resulted ~
inestimab bic good 10 the Allies as well az
TO this country.
Similar cooperation in aircraft sts,-
dard!zatIon matters was brought about
with the Navy Department, with which
most cordial and beneficial relations eN-
listed.
Research Work Valuable.
Other members OF the society serving
both on the committees OF the National
Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and
In cooperation with the National Bureau
of Standards. helped to bring about re
search work OF no little Importance IN
the Government programme. One result
Of this work was the design and estab-
lishment at the Bureau Of Standards OF
so-called altitude laboratories In which
II was possible to submit engines to test
under the low pressure and temperature
conditions encountered IN actual fiSh'
Laboratories of this character were
roveltr In the field OF engineering ant
were the means OF securing much "a a
o: great "alue.
dards committee OF the society hu'6
many important sessions during the W.
ana adopted many standards for airCrs'
parts and materials which vera later %
great benefit TO the Government IN lie
preparation o. aircraft specifications
/ This work was done at TINE vher
, few appreciated. Is did the societ, with
It's long experience In Standardization
matters. the need and vaIuc OF such VOL
without which production N quaint
is beset with the greatest di'1cuj'.es .
not imposs bic.
Among the Nar.ouS problems IT,;
confronted the Amy at tne tin. ~
the entry Of this country INTO the W"
+! was that involving the design and 90
ducton OF tractors suitable To- tie
! haulage Of ordnance ard ordnance S.
plies. To this was later added W,
, OF similar character in connection
with army vehicles commonly known as
tanks.
In this work members OF the soos."
again played a prominent parL O's
or its past presidents was placed :"
charge or tank engineering work, ard
past vice. president in charge Of wo',
involving the design OF tractors fQr tNe
haulage OF artillery in the field. a . We
as for the handling Of ammunition, o',.
nance repair shops ami the iIts 'C,.s
work involved not only the prrp5Iau.
Of design, hut production n such pr,
quantities as would truly nave amazed
the German had he been able 20 of
out long enough TO witness the op.n'"s
o. campaign in 1919.
Foe Escaped Much.
Those who do not hnow low }.s..
Mas accomplished in this field not o"''
BY those who took the prominent r.
but also by many VINO did sp,e'
, work a $ suhordinates Of all glaues .r
draughtsmen to chief rrg.ueege. "
find II difficult to appreciate what,
/ terrible punishment WAS meted ou' 20
, the foe. Had lie chosen or beer dhs
10 hold out few months loDgcI, 20
would have been faced b. mobile $50.
so designed as TO he quict.y N,'s'
by independent tractors and Is o'H,'
mounted directly on tractors vA'.N 80.
change their position in an in0~'d.'
short time. and thus render {; virtual"
impossible for enemy aircraft 20 '-9o
with sufficient accuracy to craA.a o.
posing artillery to set correct 'f',.
| and direction
Such equ!pmeu, was designed aa!
process OF development AMI roos'r"
ton by automotive engineers, long "'t3"
tho armistiCe was signed. BY IT. Ne o
rapid would I've the advance -
started that nothing hpt s..-e"A'"
/ could have saved the TOO ;r9a u''.'
| destruction.
In short, through tho efforts To-. t'o '.
! tomot!ve engineer proviso1 ha4 ="
| made whereby the entire arm 0''.
| soon be as II il were mounted uu"u sv.
! propelled vehicles o; such type that exc.
the destruction OF roads wouV Na'o bee
| OF little moment. since the Seh.c,e co.,.
negotiate almost any kind Of groun.. g.,
The German may well Il ur' u.n''e..
| fortunate that he did not 4 a'g % rae
! another campaign, such Nro".'ige "-
he must have gained Coacert ~ 'Hr '".-
| production Of suC,I aTparb "- @
been here mentioned Was aa t.r-'
! winch contributed Target. J
| WATCH came earlier than of. TIE eP'''
mlst!e had thought possible.