The Washington times., 1921-09-05
ARMY SELECTS
10 AUTO TYPES
AS STANDARDS
Also Makes Provision to Seize
Plants in War-Flivvers
Omitted From List.

All motor vehicles of ten different
types designated as standard for the
United States Army" would be subject
to commander by the War Depart
ment in time of national emergency
under q plan which has just been
worked out by officers OF the motor
transport service. II was learned at
the War Department today.
Manufacturing plants OF firms max
ing these types OF vehicles would also
be taken over by the Government, un-
der the suggested plan. Army off
GERS charged with this work stated to.
day that recommendations would
probably be made to Congress for leg.
islation authorizing the Federal Gov.
ernment to take the necessary action
In time of national need.
Select STANDARD Types.
After the most careful tests. extend.
ing over a period Of several months,
those assigned to the duty OF de-
termining the motor equipment Of
the army have selected ten well-known
makes Of automobile. truck and no
torcycle which are designated as
standard for the American military
forces.
In the list are several makes Of
machines which did yeoman service
with the American Expeditiorary
Forces in France. but there are sew
eral 'well-known makes Of automo-
bile and truck which are glar.ngIy
conspicuous by their absence. There
In one high class car of ample morse
power and speed which has been
designated as the principal pas
senger vehicle Of the army. also to
~ ,,aaA Gar ,,xo,, ffn0 aaa rchliUhfa ~
Under the proposed plan 1t would
be the vehicle used by officers Of the
rank Of field officers and above.
Lower ranks Of the army would
be Furnished with another we'll
knGR. but less expensive make OF
ca hich in the new classification
is NI4fkracterized as passenger We
bicle, light delivery truck and light
repair truck Still a third type Of
machine is designated as ambulance
and machine gun vehicle"
Under the designation Of stand
ard one and a, half ton truck" three
well known makes are found. and
there are also three makes In the
three ton truck" class. Only one
make OF five ton truck is authorized.
that make also being included under
the three ton class. Only one type
of motorcycle is authorized.
F1ivyers Omitted.
Perhaps the most surprising fea-
ture Of the Hst is the fact that one
machine which has become a house
hold word not only In the United
States but abroad as well, is entirely
omitted.
Those responsible for the selections
are emphatic in their declarations
that the list does not attempt to in
cIude all the good motor vehicles
manufactured in the United States.
They freely admit the merits OF other
machines and insist that the fact that
car has been omitted in no wise
constitutes a slur upon that particu-
lar make.
Two considerations have been de-
cisive in making the selections, they
assert, first, the suitability of the
vehicle to the particular needs Of the
army service; and, second, the ability
of plants manufacturing those vehicles
to produce on large scale under war
time demand.
War Showed Need.
The plan to permit the Government
to compel any individual to turn over
car Of these makes in time Of war
was suggested, officers explained, by
widespread criticism Of the policy OF
the War Department during the world
war. There being no fixed standards,
the Government was compelled to
purchase all kinds Of vehicles, with
the result that sufficient spare parts
were unobtainabIe and in many in
stances cars had to be sold or aban-
doned, with resultant charges OF ex-
travagance. Under the plsn now pro-
posed, the owner Of a commandeered
car would be compensated, either in
cash or with a vehicle Of some other
make. This plan, 1t was pointed out,
was employed successfully by both the
British and French governments dur
Ing the world war.