The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-19

Tho 800 oficers and men Of the
United States Motor Transport Con-
way viii be remembered partfcu-
las4y wen by score Of towns and
WuaeeS on the far western reach Of
the Lincoln. highway These COM
xnuuities count improved roads and
xew bridges among their gains
from the conveys pioneer expedi-
t1no from Washington, D. c., to San
yFsncisco. The nations gain is a
remarkable awakening of interest In
anod roads.
From Wyoming to the Rockies.
the army train knew no days of easy
riding. The road conditions were
the worst in years because of the
unprecedented dry spell. 1t took
lot bf hard driving and deal Of
gn3ohd;d direction by the officers in
charge to maintain the average OF
SIXTY miles day for the heavy
txDckA The motor train was three
nzfaas long. Among the seventy
60 trucks were some weighing
1nmteen tons with load. For their
passage across streams, the army
enxtueer company with the convoy
had to rebuild sixty-hve bridges,
Fourteen of these bridges were re-
euflt one day of the journey.
Starting from Washington on jury
tn. the motor transport corps
- ched San Francisco on Septem-
~ 9Th. There q milestone was I'M
vat3ed to mark the achievement OF
the drst motor transport convoy 70
attempt a trans-continental trip.
To each man was presented a
uaedal approved by the war depart
r
Nv came to four civilian drivers
vho made the entire trip. These
rnan were the drivers of the path
lndtug WHY'S knight touring car
and the three Overland As which
served as the scout publicity cars 81
the convoy Colonel Mcclure, the
expeditionary commander included
mo four WHY'S Overland drivers
among the recipients of the MEDIA
for faithful. efficient and untir1ng
oarvice with the convoy
The record made by Overland -
"a the trip is considered remark
ehle. Overland is the new type
AZ car which the WHY'S Overland
this sea son. It's distinctive feature
is 4 new three point spring suspen-
sion. These scout cars excited PUB
he interest everywhere along the
sUUta- =
Tney covered nearly 2.ooh miles
more OF road than did the trucks.
urecedtng the convoy from town TO
trwn. The new spring suspension
vas given the hardest possible test
IN actual army transport service
Army officers and others who rode
ia them were enthusiastic In praise
az the comfort and ease of riding
ard the Indicating ability of the
u1w cars
II IL Interesting to note that these
Overland As and the WHY'S knigh.
completed the transconunenta'
tourney without necessity for re
pairs. How well the cars performer
nav be Judged from this record .zepe
trv Major NJ S Cooper. who repre-
aentAd the willys-Overland company
on the "trip. His report read
Overland as and WHY'S knfgnt
r.yna pleted transcontinental trip with
clear records WHY'S knight COW
erred 4,132 miles with but two pune .
tnres Overland Sedan covered
4 RAT miles with but two tire
changes Driver Schell In Overland
4 touring made 4.743 miles with SIX
ftre changes Driver Brown IN
overland touring covered 1000
u,fles with only three tire changes
DIR. S. N johnson was the oracia
lecturer Of the convoy, He made
addreeses at all stops on the need
and Importance OF good roads; ne
$1,000 I'm the recruiting campaign
Which was part of the work OF IN"
r,onvoys Or. johnson rode In the
Overland Sedan. Writing TO the