Arizona republican., 1920-06-06
R|G ARMY NOTOR. CORPS MAY NOT. COME TOPHOENIX

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 The huge army motor transport corps convoy, which Will make a trans
 continental journey from WashingtoR.
 D. C., to Los Angeles between June
 II and September IT, will not go
 through Phoenix, as was reported
 Thursday, but will be routed througu Arizona by way of Tucson, unless the people of Phoenix can take steps U keep this city from being eliminated from the route as is now contemplated
 That was stated in a letter received
 yesterday by The Republican from J. A. Rountree, director general of the Bankhead National Highway associa- tion, and especially appointed field
 representative for the conveys tour, in charge of publicity and arrange nents in the towns visited. Mir. Roun- tree quoted d letter from Brig. Gen. 1 C. B. Drake, chief of the motor trans port corps, in which General Drake
 said his office had been advised by the | American Automobile association that 1 the road from Phoenix to Yuma is i impossible and win probably not be 1 in shape for the conveys use when
 it arrived in the fall, and the sug
 gestion made that the convoy be routed | direct from Tucson to Yuma by way ! of Ajo and the Papago Indian reser- vation.
 The transcontinental army motol | transport convoy, as tentatively planned will leave Washington June fl, a week l from Monday, after appropriate cere monies, and traverse the Bankhead { National highway from the capital to i the Pacific coast, going south to Geor- ! gia and then almost due west across 1 the country to Los Angeles The con- ! Voy will consist of more than 50 trucks 1 and cars, making it more than two
 miles long. It will be commanded by
 Lieut.. Col. John Franklin, and the per l sonnel will include 8 officers, 160 men i and 20 distinguished guests.
 l Cities throughout the country which 1 the convoy will visit are now making | plans for welcoming it. and appropriate 1 receptions will be arranged at the Ari- zona stops. The first tentative itin 1 erary for the convoy included the fol- l lowing schedule for Arizona: Rodeo, 1 August 27; Douglas, August 2S; Bisbee, l August 30: Benson. August 31; Tue son. September 1; Florence. September I 2; Phoenix, September 3: Palo Verde, ] September 4; Agua Caliente, Septem- l Der 6; Melton, September s; Yuma, 1 September 9.
 Since then. however, according to i General Drake's letter to MT. Roun- i tree, the war department has heard | that the Phoenix to Yuma road will not be passable for the convoy. though 1 part of the Bankhead highway. and 1 for that reason is contemplating | CndnSlns the route AliEOuEl A4tS SLd Nt 1 to avoid that stretch of road. inci- dentally eliminating Phoenix and other cities from the route. Mir. Rountree suggests that the people of Phoenix l take steps to insure the conveys visit 1 to this city. His letter follows: You have already received informa- | tion and a copy of the itinerary of the l motor transport corps convoy which 1 stalts from Washington on June 14 and reaches Arizona on August 27. Now, it was expected this convoy
 would go over tho Banlzhead highway ss was mapped out and adopted at i Birmingham on February , and en- I dorsed at Hot Springs April 16.
 Now you will sec from the enclosed 1 copy of letter that the war department Fis contemplating a change in the route l Of this couVoN, but not in the highway. l But it is our desire that this convoy i shall go over the regular Bankhead l highway as mapped out and adopted.
 am sending you this letter so that i the Phoenix l,eoIlo can take steps in regard to -he same"
 The letter quoted from General ! Draks to Mir. Rountree follows; My Dear Mir. Rountree:
 T acknowledge receipt of your let ! ter of May 21 and beg to advise that l this office has received information 1 from the American Automobile asso- l citation that the road from PhoeniS to 1 Yuma is impossible and will probably not be in shape for the convoy to use 1 when it arrives at that point, and 1 suggests that the convoy be routed 1 from Tucson to Yuma by way of Ajo ! across tho Papago Indian reservation. If you can get us some later in- l formation on this subject aGd also do l anything toward arousfng the state to an increased activity along fine Bank l head route, we will appreciate it. (Signed) ''C. B. DRAKE | ''BriadIer General, '. g. A, Chief Mo- tor Transport Corps''