South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-06
Z. S. Army Motor Truck
Train to Cross Country
VIII Demonstrate Practicabilty of Moving Army Over
: Continent and Need of Good Highways

By order sof the war department
n motor transport train. three miles
long. win leave washington on July
I and cross the continent 20 the Pa
etfc coast. reaching San Francisco
over the Lincoln highway.
This long journey IS 10 be made
In 60 days. IL will serve as a test
% the eficiency OF the army's trans
port service. but what IS considered
more effective, Will demonstrate 20
the nation the etnestirnable value OF
a system of national highways
The plans for the adventure have
been completed BY the war depart
nnent All equipment has been as
sembled and the personnel detail as
signed. This transport train will be
the heaviest IN the history OF any
army y will be even heavier than
any single unit Of the huge trans
port service used TO keep the ar
mics OF the allies supplied along the
French front No motor transport
train OF any nation has ever before
attempted a continuous Journey OF
5000 miles IN SO days with full war
equipment The motor trucks will
carry not only their own supplies
10 last the entire journey, but will
carry supply and repair units, as
well as fun compliments OF men
and officers. The marching orders
call for an average OF IS miles
dav. This schedule necessitates a
speed OF Is miles an hour all the
way from Washington 10 the coast
no matter how unfavorable the
weather or geographical conditions.
The war department through the
chief OF the motor transport corps
BriR. Gen. Drake, has officially
notified the War Camp Community
service Of the departure OF the
transport train and requested 1t TO
care for the men all the way from
Washington TO San Francisco. send
ing the itinerary Of the line Of
march. The War Camp Comm unity
service has been authorized TO make
official announcement of the event
for the war department, and has al
ready dispatched special letters with
instructions 20 all OF its organizers
and field workers along the line Of
march. Plans for the mems care
ara recreation during their brief
evening In each community have al
ready been perfected.
The decision TO send three miles
Of army trucks across the country
was reached several days ago IN
Washington after consultations be
tween Gen. Drake. in command OF
the transport service. Col owen
Seaman and Lieut.-COl J. NJ. Ritz
chic working in close collaboration
with the Lincoln Highway assocIa-
ton
The most picturesque features OF
the long journey will be the manner
in which the long snake-liI1e train
OF motor vehicles will wind its
heavy humping way over the
Rocky mountains. 1t will cross by
way OF the continental divide. The
engineering staff OF the army has
carefully figured out the journey so
that no mechanical or engineering
obstacles stand in the way or its sue
cess
The start IS to be made on the
morning Of July from Lafayette
square in front OF the white house.
The van OF the train will immediate
" leave the capitol, heading for
Pittsburg. The course then follow
cd Will take the soldiers trucks
through Ohio. Indiana, Illinois
Iowa. Nebraska. Wyoming. Utah and
Nevada. The transport trucks will
finally drop down the western slope
OF the Sierra Nevada range %
Sacramento. Calf and then on tC
san Francisco.
For many years the Lincoln High
way aEociatiOn has endeavored tC
secure the backing OF the govern
ment in its project 10 build thor
onghiy sound ocean 20 ocean high
way. The proposed journey OF the
three miles OF motor transports /!
the first official assistance that il
has received in its project. In many
states good roads have been cam
paign slogans and many governor!