Omaha daily bee., 1919-03-09
By 1T. CHARLES w. BERRY
Motor Transnort CORN. o. "a.

which axiom may possess no spe
eial interest save for the purpose oil
establishing a starting point. The
fountain head of the motor trans.
port corps was localized in 1908
when authorization for the pro-
curement of one 0ldsmobile was
granted by the War department
From that time until 1911 motor
transportation for the army was I'm.
der limited consideration, a few off.
cal reports being rendered covering
the utility, practicability, etc, OF
power driven vehicles for military
uses. but judged by procurement
and Standardization the results were
negligible. True it is that small
stock of machines. widely diversi-
fed as to make and type, was pro-
cured and tested under service con-
ditions, but the CONCLUSION may be
asserted that the methods OF army
transportation up to 1911 had no
pronounced deviation from those
obtaining from the early days of the
republic-man, boat, rail, and, last,
but by no means least, the curse
absorbing army mule.
When the Villa punitive expedi-
ton had its first roll call, the motor
truck took its position and an
swered Here" AT that time the
government possessed less than 100
machines-the exact figures are SO
and of this about 20 were on duty
in our foreign territory. The de-
mand for trucks became imperative.
and emergency orders prevailed. To
meet the situation. q train was
hired and this, carrying only the
chassis OF trucks and a hastily Sc
cured civilian personnel for COM
pany organization, was driven at ex-
press speed and first right of way
from q Great Lake city on the north
to the Mexican border. Upon ar
rival. escort wagon bodies were
fastened TO the chassis-N thus
equipped constituting a unit-the
appropriate civilian personnel was
assigned, a competent officer placed
in command and the convoy started
south with its load under orders to
make contact in shortest possible
time with our American forces then
far below the horizon in the sun
baked, cacti-studded terrain of Mex
leo.
Competent Officers.
In command Of these companies
were officers specially selected,
clearheaded, fearless men: men of
the tractor and not the pusl er type,
and every one made the delivery.
These officers, with few exceptions.
have retained their identity " 18th the
motor transport service to the pres
emit day. General Drake, now chief
of the corps, was commanding of
ficer of one Of these companies; Col
onel Furlow, now deputy chef, was
also a company commander aid the
officer who brought the emergency
train from Cleveland to the border,
Colonel Seaman, now executive Of
hcer. was supply officer and narticu-
larly active in his services along the
entire border. Colonel Orion. came
to the service from civil life in 1917,
his selection as chief of service di-
vision being based upon his techni-
cal experience as engineer, organi-
ger, writer and instructor, For many
years he was dean of the college Of
Ohio State university.
First Ships Take Trucks.
When, in April, 1917, the congress
of the United States placed the lives,
fortunes, and sacred honor of its
charge-the American peop'e-on
the altar of liberty the feel ! Of ac-
tivity which attached to the motor
transport service became OF stu
pendous size. On June IA, ol7, the
first CONVOY Of FIVE ships, under the
protection of the navy, sailed with
forces, and its total mo-
tor equipment was 1913 Packard one
new chassis, two Ca
dillac touring cars, three motorcy-
cles, and four Nash quads. The Ca
iillacs. Nash quads, and two of the
belonged to the ma
rines. One of the Packards became
damaged and was used for its spare
parts. Therefore, l27 Packard
chassis and one motorcycle con-
stituted the equipment of the mo-
Tor transport service, but with lin
ted spare parts, miscellaneous sup
plies. no oil or gasoline, The ar
rival Of the second American convoy
brought the quota of the Cadillac
touring cars up to 80, but there were
10 spare parts, and the batteries had
oeen packed dry. Operation, how
ever, was effected. Rope makes a
air substitute for the standard tire,
BUT such use is observed to be high |
v conducive to remarks carrying
more force than elegance.
"For Gods Sake, Hurryr
II early became apparent that
very cubic foot of ship space must
,e utilized for men and munitions,
-ather than bulky material; and
wen before that transatlantic call |
or assistance, For Gods sake, hur-
v up" had reached the White |
House trucks had been rclegated to |
he second table, with mighty slight |
nance Of the meal being served on !
ime. Trucks were in demand "over
here" and it naturally became in
.umhent upon the motor service,
"A. E. F., France" to produce re-
iults in the procurement line. Eu-
ope was literally dragnetted from |
he North Cape to Gibraltar for
in the motor line pos
Iessing sufficient vitality to move,
,asp or stand an injection OF gaso-
inc. The resultant haul was aston
shing in diversity Of type. dissim-
larity Of species, general tendency
o Grass cussedness and a grinning
disregard for the laws of nature or
nan.
American genius and initiative
anne in answer to the IS. o S" of
his situation. Shops Of stupendous
ize and unprecedented capacity
we're provided, operated with a
lighiy-trained and specialized per-
4 ....Ats