Newark post., 1919-08-27
GOOD ROADS
ALSO HELPED TO
WIN THE WAR
They Can Likewise Give Inn
petus to the Future Pros
perity of America

An intelligent German lieuten-
ant captured in the Meuse Argonne
offensive in answer to the usual
questions, hit upon a bit of truth
that caused his American captors
to ponder. He said that the Allies
had a big advantage in having
thousands of motor trucks to trans
port troops and supplies and the
excellent French roads to bear the
traffic of this transportation.
Such statement from an enemy
lieutenant caused the American
officers who queried him to ponder,
They hated to admit that anything
a German said was right, but
nevertheless they had to agree
with him. Why the very division
of which they were members had
been transported from the Fosges
trenches to northwest of Verdun
almost wholly by automobile
trucks which were able to make
the long and heavy haul of troops
because of the excellent French
highways. Division after division
Of combat troops was massed dur
ing the week preceding September
26, when the attack that resulted
in the fall of the Hindenburg line
was begun. Most Of these troops
were brought to the new front in
motor trucks. which travelled in
trains of from 100 to $50, mostly
during the night and without head
lights.
Although the roads of Belgium
are not as good as those of France.
nevertheless the fact that they
were at least passable made the
movement of troops by auto trains
help to the Allies in the north
ern front. The highways Of King
Albert's country are generally
made of Belgian granite block, and
consequently the wear and tear
over the rough cobbles made auto
truck traffic expensive and un-
pleasant, but the roads furnished
about the only means for the trans
portation Of troops and supplies,
as the railroads were not fit to be
operated.
Not only did the French high
ways and streets bear up under
the terrific traffic of troop move
ment but in the areas back of the
firing line the Service of Supplies
worked day and night sending
thousands Of trucks on long jour
neys with food, ammunition and
clothing to the men at the front
The bituminous streets in Paris
and its environs bore up with re-
markable strength under the con-
tinuous flow of enormous motor
lorries. These bituminous streets
were not repaired during the war
because of the lack of time, money
and men. but despite their lack of
attention they are still in good
condition.
There seems to be one pertinent
and striking conclusion to be
drawn from the inestimable serv-
ice furnished by good roads in
France during the war. That is,
what good roads did toward vic
tory they can do also toward the
future growth and prosperity of
America. Many writer's have en-
phasiZed the value of improved
roads from a military viewpoint
with the idea, probably, that the
country would be more interested
in the military phase of highway
Improvement. These writer's are
correct in their claims and a great
system of national highways would
indeed add to the strategic
strength of America. But would il
not equally add to our strength
commercially? Surely it would.
Year in and year out we hear
the farmer wall that his fruit is
rotting on the ground because OF
lack of transportation to get it to
the markets. The railroads are
overloaded and consequently their
greatest ally, the automobile truck
must needs alleviate the farmer
troubles. Repeatedly one hears
manufacturers complaining 0 f
poor shipping conditions and thei1
output is held in the factories for
weeks because of railroad conges-
tion. Often does one see various