Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-11-26
iORS' and
ln.,kS' CENTER
! IS on ARSENAL
Arsenal Repair Shop for Army
Motor Vehicles Of Department \
Under Colonel L. B. Moody.

Rock Island arsenal Is now the
ofilcial center for the tank, tractor
and trailer division Of the United
States army. At this plant will
be centralized the assembly and re-
pair of tanks, tractors and trailers,
and from here these will be sent 10
all points where they are used by
the army/ Some but not all tie
parts Of these three types of We
hicles will also be made here.
At present Colonel L. B. Moody,
the chief Of the division, which has
official charge Of procuring and
supervising of tanks and tractors,
Is at the post, looking over facili-
ties and getting acquainted. As he
said yesterday the chief Of de-
partment should be cognizant of
the methods whereby things under
his supervision are handled. and
who does the handling.
1t is not generally understood
how greatly the army has been and
10 being motorized. The horse is
still in use for hauling vehicles Of
various kinds, but he is rapidly be-
ing disposed Of. The upkeep ut
current prices is too great. On the
other hand a. tractor can be fur
nished for about the same initial
cost as the livestock 1t displaces,
and the cost Of operation is very
little more than the upkeep Of the
horses. Besides, horses must De
fed all of the time, while tractors
and motors only require fuel when
being operated. The cost of re-
tanning the motors when they are
not in use is practically negligible.
MotOrizatiOn Success.
Colonel Moody gave figures yes
terday to show the advantage IT
the motorized army. On recent
tour OF a brigade into Germany,
When tactics similar to those used
In following up q retreating foe
were used and 10 miles were COW
cred daily, careful account was
kept Of the work Of the tractors. 1t
was found that only Is per cent O!
the men needed to care for and
drive the livestock to do a given
amount Of hauling was required
when the motors were used, viii. e
the cost remained nearly the same
The tank, tractor and trailer divi-
sion is one Of the main sections Of
the transportation department oil
the army. The arsenal has little to
do with the motor transport corps
In thu first division is also included
the mobile repair shop department.
which succeeded In keeping 81 pet
cent Of the American guns continu-
ally in action ON the European front
during the war, owing to repair sta.
tions being moved close to the lines
Two Sizes Of Each.
There are two tractors used BY
the army, the 5-ton and the lotion
sizes. Those figures refer to their
weight, but they are also able to
pull their own weight through al
most any sort Of going. .Theetanks
which like the tractors. are pro-
PEELED on caterpillar treads, are as
sembled In small sic, 6-ton, and
in large size known as the Marh
VIII. There are about 1900 oil
these at present being assembled
or overhauled on the arsenal.
Motorized artillery was shown
to be the thing in the recent war,
said Colonel Moody. 1.-THE question
is will it be so in peace? We rathei
think 1t will prove to be-" And hi
went on to cite the figures.
Forces Increased.
Last week the total number o.
employees at the arsenal and at the
proving ground at Savanna was
7.47S, an increase Of 200 over the
report Of the week before. Thi.
raise indicates part Of q genera
padding Of the force by the addition
Of more than 500 employees, to worl
on the trailers and tractors. It IL
possible that only a few more mer
will be hired for this work. The;l
occupation will be similar to thai
of an automobile mechanic.
A visitor at the arsenal last weel
was Lieutenant Colonel H. H. For.
ing. Major William F. Downing re-
ported for temporary duty in con.
nection with maintenance activi
ties. First Lieutenant P. r. L. Hog.
ner is on detached service at Nash.
willie, Tenn.
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