The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1919-03-12

BY Christy walsh
AAaat Motor Transport Corps.
y. 3. 4


Trucks saved the day at the
harne--they saved the railroads In
America and they literally carried
ths(afmies of freedom to victory
overseas.
In Americas first days of the
war the truck manufacturers were
summoned and told the needs Of
Uncle Sam. They responded with
q willingness and an output that
soon choked the highways between
points of embarkation and such
factory cities as Detroit, Allentown
and Lansing.
Before the full possibilities of
the motor driven freight car had
been realized the high command of
the American army anticipated its
supreme usefulness by creating the
motor Transport Corps-the new
est and a thoroughly Independent
branch of the service.
Army engineers and officials of
the war department had long been
concerned with the question of
transportation by motor truck.
The limited but indispensable ser
vice rendered along the border and
over the barren sands of Mexico
was the first conclusive evidence of
the passing of the historic army
mule. The truck trains as employ
ed during the Mexican expedition
represented motor transportation
in its primitive form. There were
no tstringent road regulations. no
traffic signals, no inspection fules
or schedules for time, speed and
distance. between trucks, such as
has been perfected in the new born
Siosor Transport Corps. Put the
great American truck made good on
its initian trial--it delivered men
to Pershing and it delivered sup
plies to Pershing's men-the two
prime funstions Of motor transpor-
tation.
Light Truck Due For Recognition
The formation of the motor corps
rs an Independent branch came in
what might be called the closing
phae of hostilities. 1t had not yet
reached the height of its attain
ments nor had 1t time to embrace
the many opportunities of truck
delivery. The first great output
of government vehicles was made
up for the most part of trucks in
the heavier class. These powerful
carriers, in fleets of fifty or a hun
dred, did the work Of twice as many
mule-driven loads, in half the time.
At Camp Johnston, Florida. the
largest motor transport camp in
America. the giant trucks accom-
plished wonders, over every high
way in America they lifted burdens
from the railroads while the des-
truction they carried to the Hun In
France is written in the page of re-
cent history.
But Just as in the commercial
world, there are some places and
certain situations where the MIN
bier light and medium weight truck
is better suited to the war. The
employment of gigantic naval guns
in the advanced fighting zone where
mobile quick handling and rapid
change of position is the all-im-
potrant consideration, presents the
same objections as the use of heavy
trucks in parallel circumstances.
Maxwell Truck Carries War Sup
plies 34OO Miles
Army men and chiefs of the Mo-
tor Transport Corps were quite
sSkare of this fundamental and a
few more months of war would
have seen a great demonstration Of
the value of the lighter trucks.
officers in charge at Camp John
son and abroad were eager for
great feet of lighter cars to supple
ment the heavy trucks and go
where the larger machines could
not.
Data and figures of service were
gathered from every possible source
but there was no single perform
ance that SO impressed officials as
the sensational journey made from
San Francisco to New York by
Maxwell truck. Loaded to the
guards with war supplies. shipped
from Australia, en- route to France,
this powerful light vehicle started
the transportation world by deliver
ing its cargo in II days and 8
hours. Averaging 1877 miles per
day and encountering all the OBJ
stacles of continuous 3400 mile
trip, this sturdy light weight truck
surpassed all existing records of