New-York tribune., 1920-05-12
400 Motor Trucks Can Be
Used to Move Freight at
Moments Notice, Saws
General r. L. Bullard
War Departments
Order Is Awaited
West Short of Food, Due
to Strike Paralyzation
of the New York Market


General Robert Lee Billiard, COM
wander Of the Eastern District, with
hssdouarters at Governors Island, told
The Tribune yesterday that many army
notor trucks were available for quick
service in case the New York freight
congestion and strike situation war
rants the use of army equipment
The arm, stands ready to take
charge Of this situation and would
Gear it up in short ORDER said Cen
eral Billiard. I'VE are prepared, and
all We await is an order from the War
Department to get busy
Eastern District Motor Transport Off
GERS considered the possibility of TAX
ing over the strike situation several
DAYS ago and prepared an emergency
schedule. Four hundred availabl army
trucks are in and around New York
City which could all be working within
;hirty-siX hours. A canvass of army
districts outside New York showed that
400 more trucks could be imported
within another forty eight hours.
Army Short of Men
Some of the outside trucks would
have to be operated by civilian chauf-
+eurs. however. because of a shortage
of men in the Motor Transport Corps"
said Colonel Wallace. of that branch,
al Governors Island yesterday THE
army is still short of men and will
probably remain so until high wages
In other lines come down.
4.
this transportation problem at any
time Washington gives the word"
]. {. Lincoln, head of the traffic bu-
reau of the New York Merchants As
sociation, said yesterday;
Ihcre Is genuine possibility that
the army may be called upon to help
New York merchants solve their trans
port problem. There is little, if anv,
progress being made in clearing up the
congestion which exists at almost every
terminal yard and on railroad and
steamship piers
The Merchants Association is be-
sieged daily with personal and tele-
phone calls from merchants and manu-
facturers who are in dire need of goods
wnich, due to the strike situation, are
ueu up "ithln ten miles or less of
their stores and factories.
What action Mayor Hylan plans TO
take in answer to request from the
interstate Commerce Commission to
AID IN clearing up the local freight
congestion could not be learned vester-
day
WORKING dependently of any 'ele
ment concerned in the labor controver-
sizes, the commission dispatched tele-
grams to municipal authorities in
cues aiang the Atlantic seaboard and
elsewhere urging the need of co0pera-
''on on IN clearing up congestion.
Many thousands of men are out of
employment in their several INDUSTRIES
'ne telegram says. "Foodstuffs fail to
reach consumers and glut sources of
supply oYertaxing banks and credits.
d, ana new crops must be provided for.
Inc effect upon shippers and consum-
efs is felt throughout the country. and
as the railroads are now opeyatinc
uhueE. government guarantee the cost
ana loss fail upon the public indiyid-
aaliy' or as taxpayers. Without regard
W Ine merits of any existing contro-
nssfsles, nsf, or to the respective rights or
oongauons OF the parties, there is
pressing need for cooperative action
IN IN some fifteen localities which now
% plock traffic. Even if the railroad d
!afds were fully manned to-day exist
iile unprecedented accommodations could
nsrdly be fully distributed and the
ialiroads restored to normal function
ing IN less than sixty days. BY that
We snail have another crop to move"
New York Hard Hit
Merchants and manufacturers who
orr oDiiged to depend on Goods from
% p%DIn's distant from New York are un-
eSle .l 70 see any great encouragement in
ne. ric lace of freight congestions in
'TTttuaiiy Tty all large railroad yards.
Inc railroads themselves, struggling
r ~ move perlshable goods and vital
NECESSITIES, ins' such as coal, are frankly
III informing s,fg consignors and consignees
VI dead freight that their case is al
7GpN hopeless for immediate action.
a, ,ro lr'pune yesterday disclosed that
a.moS' Unprecedented congestion is
sensfal seas IN virtually all the largest rail
lyaa Ws yards of the territory east of the
'sSisslppi River.
si.rneNew rne New York strike and congestion
N.uaIon brings a double affliction on
''" iork industry and commerce, both
lCortDued or mana av.\