Omaha daily bee., 1919-06-26
MOTOR CORPS
OF U. S. ARMY
TO VISIT HERE
Observers From All Branches
Will Accompany Trans
port; Leave WASH
ington July 7.

Washington, June 25.-(Special
to The Bee).-The Motor Trans
port corps of the army will de-
spatch a motor train consisting of
90 big trucks, two full companies
of motor transport corps officers
and men, and observers from all of
the army branches, including the
air service, the artillery and the
engineer corps with two officers
and 80 men to leave Washington on
July 7, over the short cut to Gettys-
burg, Pa, from which point the
train will proceed westward over
the Lincoln highway via Pitts
burgh, Canton, Chicago Heights,
Clinton, Cedar Rapids, Marshall
town, Council Bluffs and Omaha.
1t is planned to spend full day
in the Gate City. Governor Nc
Kelvie, members of the Chamber of
Commerce, the Rotary club, the
commissioners of Omaha and other
prominent citizens have been in
vited to participate in the exercises
attendant upon the trains arrival
on the west bank of the Missouri.
From Omaha the train will pro-
coed westward through Cheyenne,
thence to Salt Lake and Tooele,
Utah; Ely and Carson City,
Nevada; then dropping down the
Sierra Madre range to Sacramento.
From thence they will go to the
terminus of the Lincoln highway at
Lincoln park, San Francisco.
Ceremonies Planned.
1t is proposed that this train will
be started in the afternoon of July
7, with appropriate exercises con-
Quoted by the president. To honor
the event a monument will be erect
ed marking the starting point of all
national highways, the capital of the
United States. This stone will have
engraved upon its surface a map of
the United States, upon which all
the authorized national highways
will be indicated in gold lines. 1t
is also proposed to erect a similar
monument at the western terminus
with similar ceremonies.
For 4 years the Lincoln Highway
association has been endeavoring to
secure the backing of the govern
ment in administration of this kind
Through the influence of Brig. Gen
Charles B. Drake, Col. A. Owen
Seaman and the assistance of the
War department the forthcoming
trip has been made possible.
The first purpose of the tour is
to demonstrate the policy of the
government and the assistance it is
willing to offer towards securing
good national highways.
To Demonstrate Activities.
Second, to demonstrate to the pub
lie the part the Motor Transport
corps took in the winning of the
world war and the important place
it now occupies in the peace employ
ment of the authorized standing
army.
Third, to demonstrate to the
young men of the country what the
motor transport corps has to Offer
in the way of mechanical training.
there will be training schools in
at camps already decided
upon, from which will be gradual
ed 5000 mechanics per year.
Communications have been re
ceived by General Drake from the
governors of the II states through |
which the train will pass pledging
their assistance in making the tot:
a memorable and historic one.
The train will be commanded BY |
Capt. Bernard McMahan, who will |
be accompanied by staff of motor
transport corps officers and the OBJ
servers.
The train will be preceded by the
official pilot, Capt. w. B. Doron.
accompanied by H. c. Osterman,
vice president of the Lincoln High
way association. These are sched-
uled to arrive in Omaha on July IS
their headquarters being at the Fon.
tenelle.
The train will carry anti-aircraft
equipment used in France and
Flanders, which includes several
5000, 000-candle power searchligkts,
capable of projecting a beam of
light Is miles.