South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-20
STANDARD MOTOR
TRUCK IS MARVEL
Worked Out During War by
Automotive Engineers For
QuartermaSter'S Corps.

Those who have kept informed
on the great problems confronting
the L. 5. army in pursuit of the war
realize that the question Of Trans
portation is one OF the most difficult
ones. Ii was only six years ago
that the qUartermaster department
recognized the importance of motor
truck transportation, and when the
campaign against Mexico was open
ed in 1916 the desirability of limit
ing the number of designs became
fully evident
The United states army bought its
first 1 1-2-ton truck as late as 1913.
and by 1916 it had accumulated
experience with but limited num-
Der. In that year Col. c. g. Baker.
then chief of transportation in the
office of the quartermaster general,
invited the Society of Automotive
engineers, TO send representatives
to Washington TO confer with army
officers and representatives of about
SO truck builders, to cooperate in
the preparing of specifications for a
standard 1 1-2-ton and a 3-ton
truck This conference was held on
May s, 1916, and the specifications
were issued i'm June, 1916. on
these plans trucks were hurriedly
purchased for use against Francisco
villa. This gave the army the first
good chance TO test the usefulness
of motor transportation under try
ing conditions as they existed on
the Mexican border
Shortly after declaration of war
on Germany Col. Bakers staff en-
tertained hopes of having a COM
pletely standardized military truck
They proceeded to have new draw
ings and specifications made, includ-
ing all the suggestions and exper-
fences recorded to that date. A
number of members of the s. A. E..
including ]. G. Utz, who for several
months was in charge Of the motor
transport engineering department
were asked TO assist in the design
of the new truck and they COM
menced work in Washington on
Aug. ]. BY Oct. /, 1917 all details
anu ANCAElio MGIG NOlIDltA6u. ana
10 days later one sample war truck
each Of class A and b were ready
for testing. One truck was driven
overland to Washington, and the
other had to cross the Allegheny
mountains. On oct. 10 the trucks,
after very successful trips, were
presented TO Sec'y Baker. and driven
also n tho nh .,
were examined by Pres't Wilson
The general staff and Secy Baker
at once authorized the production
of 10000 class trucks. and 10 ex-
ecute this great task the military
truck production section of the
transportation division of the quar-
termaster's corps was organized,
composed of civilians only. The
work was distributed among II
truck builders, each 10 make 500 to
1000 trucks. The first five trucks
We're available Jan. 10. 1918 BY
April, 1918, production was proceed
ing so satisfa ctorily that the general
staff authorized the purchase of
5000 more trucks. and i'm August.
1918. an additional 5000 were au-
thoriZed but the armistice was
signed before the last order was far
advanced.
II has, however, been clearly
demonstrated that the class b
trucks are not equalled in perform
ance by any other type OF truck used
overseas. The experience acquired
by the automOtive engineers will
be Immediately available in their
peace-time occupations, and the
motor transport corps acknowledges
that the successful solution of the
motor truck problems is in a large
measure due 10 the cooperation Of
the Society of Automotive engineers