El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-06-11
NeW Mex. Mayor
GTeetS E1-zgin
Via Ne10 Radio
Motorcycle Outfit Makes
Fast Run to AlamogOrdo
And Sends Messages.

What promises TO win the approval
Of the war department and recogni-
ton for the seventh field signal bat
talon at Fort Bliss, is the new radio
motorcycle outfit. designed and built
by the battalion. which has been pro-
nounced an unqualified success. A re-
cent test Of the wireless station op-
Grated from a motorcycle. at Alamo
gOrdO n H.. convinced officers of the
signal corps that the new device is en-
tireiy practicable.
The trip to Alamogordo was made
last Saturday. The run Of los miles
was made over the Twin Mills road. in
heavy white sand, but only seven
hours was required for the trip.
static conditions were poor on sat
urday. however, and owing to an cleo
trical storm the soldiers were una
bic TO communicate with Fort Bliss
At 3 o'clock Sunday morning. however,
the ether cleared and at 4 o'clock the
men began senCing messages to Fort
Bliss. Mayor Mckinley. Of Alamo
gOrdO. sent to Brig. Gen James 3 F.r-
win at the fort the following message
Congratulate you upon the IN
equaled success Of the new radio mo-
May traverse 200 Miles.
Other messages were sent to Fort
Bliss which the operators there de-
clare came In clearly and with such
force that they were able TO remove
their headpieces and still get the mes
sages. The airline distance to Alamo
gOrdO is more than so miles and from
the results obtained on the trip the Of
ficers insisted that distance Of 200
miles may be successfully traversed
from the motorcycle radio sets. Capt.
Neil Harring, Lieut.. Paul Neal and
Lieut. HO1son, with three enlisted
men, constituted the party which made
the Alamog ordo trip
The return trip. a distance OF los
miles by road. was completed in four
hours and five minutes travelling time.
and demonstrated that the machines
viii be able TO operate successfully in
cross county runs A new gasoline
storage tank arrangement will enable
each machine to carry enough fuel for
return trip from Alamogordo. however.
used only five and one-quarter bal
Ions of gas.
Device Means Big Saving.
The new set viii consist Of two mo-
tOrcycles and three men and VIII re-
place the old fashioned pack sets Of
ten men. ten horses and three mules
The saving in personnel and forage is
expected 10 constitute an economy
which viii appeal to officials in Wash
inEton. Under the old plan the wound
ing of even one mule would throw the
entire set out Of commission, whereas
even though one Of the motorcycles Of
the new set were smashed. the other
would enable the men TO keep in COM
munication with other stations.
The principal feature consists OF a
specially designed side car. so ar
ranged as 10 carry the sending and re-
ceivinE apparatus and the kit while
the generator is mounted on the rear
Of the machine The generator on - {
new sets is driven entirely by the
power Of the motorcycle, while the old
style machine was operated by four 3
men with an unusual amount OF labor. /
Bread Record for Speed
A radio role 30 feet long IS carried I
In ten sections and recently in prac- I
tee the outfit set u q complete plant. I
stopping from fast sneed and making .
The complete connection for sending /
Mesa yes in IS seconds. breaking the I
worlds. record for speed IN setting up
IN aerial plant The former record i
line was one minute and q seconds /.
md the record was held by the ma
ines.
Further Tests Planned.
It is the plan Of the commanding
officers Of the Seventh field battalion 4
10 take the new outfit a distance OF I
approximately $50 or 200 miles from
The camp for the purpose Of further ]
demonstrating its ability TO send over
ong distances During the coming D
week the outfit viii be set NJ at Fort I
Bliss and messages viii be sent TO the /
radio company at Maria. Texas. a dis
.ance Of more than 200 miles
With the success Of the working
model proved, IL is expected that when
specifications and q report on the new
lutfit are sent Washington. the result
VIII be extensive motorizing Of the
ado outfits, which viii make them
peculiarly adaptable to the southwest
CAPT. ELY IS VISITOR.
Capt Clyde Ely. formerly in COM
mand Of the 1f5th machine gun bat
alton. who recently was discharged Z
~ Drasidfn- Calff Is Nisftinr In This