Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-07
j. s. MOTOR TRAIN
STARTS FOR COAST
Secretary Baker and Army
Officials and Other Person.
ages Attend Dedication.
WILL PROVE HISTORIC

In the presence of the Secretary OF
War, high Army officials and mem
bers of the Lincoln Highway Associa-
huge motor truck train of the Motor
Transport Corps of the United States
Army got under way today on its trip
across the continent, which will be
historic.
This is the beginning of new era.
said Secretary Baker. speaking at the
dedication exercises before the start.
He spoke of the value of the motor
transport during war time and said
that it was this branch of the service
that saved Verdun and Paris. THE
great feat of the motor transport in
rushing troops into Chateau Thierry
to relieve the French will live long
in history" said the Secretary.
"War of Motor Transports.
This world war" continued Secre-
tary Baker. was a war of motor
transports. 1t was war of move
ment. especially in the later stages
ton of the armies was changed to
meet the new conditions. There
seemed to be never-ending stream
of moving transports along the white
roads of France.
"One of the remarkable and en-
tirely new developments of the war;.
he said, was the inauguration of
regular timetable and schedule for
these trucks. In the daytime they
were held in thickly wooded sections
but at night each one started out
with a map and regular schedule
which was as closely followed as the
modern railroad. In no previous war
has motor transportation developed
to such an extent"
Secretary Baker accepted. on behalf
of the government, the replica OF the
zero milestone" which marks the
starting point Of this trip. A per-
stone. to be accepted by the
President on his return, will replace
the one used today. Rev. DR.. Couden.
tives. pronounced the invocation and
Robert N. Harper pre-
sided at the dedication exercises. Maj.
Gen. March and Representative Kahn
of California were present. fhe latter
presented Col. Charles Mcclure. com
wreaths to be given to the Governor
of California.
Has 200 Men and go Trucks.
This long Army motor train. COM
posed of over sixty trucks and with
a personnel of more than 200 men.
slowly out of the city on
Journey across the continent shortly
after III o'clock this morning. 1t Is
to be self maintained and self-operat-
ed and carries road and bridge build
ing equipment. SO that in case of a
repairs can be speedily
most thoroughly equipped and
manned Army motor train ever as
sembled.
Frederick will be the first stop. The
night will be spent there. Tomorrow
the train will proceed to Gettysburg,
where the Lincoln highway actually
begins. Representatives of the Ma
tional Highway Association and state
officials will meet the train there. A
speech will be made by the mayor of
In each town through
which the train passes a large poster
will be left, thus making a perma-
nent trail Of the motor transport
train across the country.
Army officers in Train.
Accompanying the train as it moved
officers who have been largely re-
sponsible in bringing about the CO.
operation of the War Department in
the good roads movement throughout
the country. They are Brig; Gen.
low, Col. A. o. Seaman and Lieut.. Col.
]. NJ. Richie. The expedition is
commanded by Lieut.. Col. Charles q.
Mcclure. Capt. Bernard McMann is in
Of the personnel Of the two
~ q 1T ho
ply Train. in addition to the actual
operation of the train.
Observers from every branch Of the
L. S. Army are taking part in the
trip and will make a study of both
the road conditions and localities.
Appropriate slogans are posted on
the train telling of the purposes of
the trip. The recruiting truck. which
either will go in advance or make
detours to cover towns not entered
parture in recruiting for the Army.
This truck will be equipped with all
necessary apparatus for examining
men for the Army. 1t is the purpose
Of the Motor Transport Corps to en-
list eligible young men for the mill
tary service. Men enlisting on this
trip will be sent to schools. which
open in September and which are
to be conducted in four separate parts
Of the country on a heretofore I'M
scale.
1t is to be noted. Army officials say,
that the students who enlist for these
schools in the Army not
only receive their education, which
comprises a course of study that has
been prepared in advance and is quite
superior to anything ever attempted
before in this line, but they also re-
ceive the pay of their rating and are
not required to do more than to keep
up their studies.
Governors Asked to Join.
Invitations have been extended to
governors of the various states to es-
cort the train through their respec-
tive states. In addition to this many
are being forwarded from
the headquarters of the Motor Trans
port Corps to the various commercial
clubs, rotary clubs and civic organiza-
tions throughout the sections to be
Representatives from the automo-
bile factories will meet the train at
different points along the route to
watch carefully for any mechanical
defects that may occur. Automobile
factories, accessory manufacturers
and makers of trucks, tires and parts
have placed themselves at the dis
posal Of the government.
1t is the hope of the government
that when the train finally winds its
way down the slopes of the Sierra
Nevada range into California it will
have accomplished a great mission for
the benefit of all communities, and
that it will demonstrate what the
Motor Transport Corps did in the