The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-03-16

Ii my recent "trip around the globe
has impressed me with c,ny one thing
above all others. it is this:
The world must become motorized.
We. in the United States, have
realized this for some time so far as
our own country is concerned, be-
cause We have recognized the auto
mobile as the greatest economic
necessity of medern times, enabling
business to be speeded up and be-
come more efficient, bringing the
country closer to the city and PROV
ing its unrivaled advantages in
scores of other ways.
What the automobile has done for
America it is destined to do for the
world, and the people in foreign
lands are beginning to realize it.
Motor cars and trucks are today to
be found i'll the most isolated places.
The island Of Java, for instance, is
ESQ miles long, yet ii has 10000
kilo meters of good roads. Here, as
in Australia motor vehicles are CO.
ordinating and cooperating with the
railroads in solving transportation
problems.
Although American-made autOmo-
biles have been shipped abroad for
years the real impetus to the export
ing of cars was brought about by
necessity. When the war started in
1914 Europe ceased as a producer OF
automobiles for public consumption,
and in addition a great proportion OF
privately owned cars were comman-
deered by the Governments for war
duty.
From the time the war broke out
until the United States entered it, a
period of about two and one-half
years, American autOmotive engine
crs were making their greatest
strides in developing and improving
motor cars, while during that same
time European engineers naturally
made little progress in their efforts
at developing cars for public Use.
The prejudice against American
built cars has been broken down III
foreign countries. The genius OF
american engineers and the ettici-
cncy Of American production met
hods are everywhere recognized. OF
course the readjustment of things
and the stabiliZing of exchange will
help the export business, yet despite
present unfavorabIe conditions, the
purchasers of cars by Europeans is
very large. Figures show tre-
mendous increase in exports during
the past twelve months.
The material, workmanship and
design of American cars are recog-
nized as being on a par with cars in
Europe. And as for ideas, whereas
il formerly was taken the custom for
us to look to Europe for innovations
in mechanical and body design, to-
day the European considers Amerl-
can cars as criterions fer stylt- ard
efficiency.
Though foreign buyers favor Amer
lean built autom obiles, they are par
ticular when it comes to choosing
any certain make of car. They
place great importance upon the
name, reputation, stability and
length of experience of the manufac-
turer. They are great sticklers for
body design, and that includes also
details of finish and appointments.
\ vital consideration with foreign
motorists is the tire and fuel, or
petrol, mileage. The cost of petrol
is high in foreign lands and in many
places the supply is so limited that it
has to be rationed out, with no more
than O. days requirement allowed at
a time. Tire mileage is important
because of the fact that in number
of countries, particularly in the far
east, the development of good roads
is limited. The lightness of the new
Studebaker Light-SiX, its economy
and the fact that it is equipped with
diversified cord tires. have. there