Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-29
MECHANIZED ARMY PUTS
NEW FACTOR In WARFARE
American Experiments Watched by
Foreign Observation-Disclosures
Tests Yield Significant Results.

longed rest period, for not man In the
whole caravan was allowed to walk.
This must be considered in connection
with the old tactics of moving large
force Of infantry over the same space,
which at the best would have taken two
days under a forced march and when
the troops did reach the striking point
many of them would have reached the
point of exhaustion and would not have
been At for battle. The scorching sun
would have taken its toll in casualties
over the not roads and during this
march there was not a casualty to the
man power.
Some Machines Disabled.
There were some casualties to the
equipment, but 1t was among the old
vehicles Not one of the machines
which were acquired within the last
few years showed sign of the strain.
The heaviest casualties, although none
of them serious, was In the third section
of the train, which carried the heavy
tanks on trucks, together with the
tractors, and heavy field and anti-air-
craft guns. The impedimenta here was
so heavy that 1t consumed a great
amount of oil in the crankcaSes. which
caused a halt for reoiling. A little
later on there were some troubles with
| the cooling systems of the gasoline en-
gines, due to fan belt breaks. and such
minor troubles The movement of this
| force with such obsolete equipment was
| not only tribute to the American en-
| CINE and automobile Building. but TO
| the officers and men of the Army
charged with their maintenance
| With this obsolescent equipment. the
| development is being carried on, and
with telling effect. The effectiveness
that has resulted from the use of this
material indicates clearly what can be
| done with the provision of money with
/ which to purchase new and modern
| equipment, for automotive equipment
has shown remarkable development
| during the II years which have passed
since the United States entered the war
The money which the Army may
| acquire for this purpose will be used
| for the most part in developing special
| equipment for cross-country offensive
use. They will need to spend little
| for the development Of motive power.
| organizations in the course of their
ordinary business. But many things
which will be needed in this mocha
nized force will have to be built and
1 developed by the Army These in
clude such things as tanks. tractors.
special cargo bodies for tractors in
which ammunition may be hauled.
email car bodies and transmissions
which can be used for the transpor-
tation of troops over rough terrain.
Many New Problems.
1t Is essentially a new force and
/ there are many problems. aside from
mere procurement of material. to be
/ worked out. Problems in connection
with the approach" must be dealt
with, such as formations to be adopted,
methods of concealment from the
ground and air, and the means 10 be
employed for diminishing the excessive
noise made by a mechanical column
Consideration must be given to the
comparative value of the cross country
car. the armored and the motor cycle
| for reconnaissance purposes. Expert
ments also are to be made with smoke
screens in the approach march of
mechanical units.
There will be the matters to be set
tied in connection with the attack, for
1t Is primarily an attacking force. such
as the equipment needed to get the
Infantry up quickly behind the tanks,
and the study of methods OF rapidly
advancing machine guns, 37-mm. guns
anu CttACA NC0RCAAot -
as fire, intrenching and other material
to keep pace with the speed Of modern
tanks. During the activities to be con-
tinued at Fort Leonard Wood there
will be a test of artillery fire against
tanks using salvaged tanks as targets.
One of the important things rests IN
the hands of the Engineers. and that
is the strengthening of bridges, and
spanning ravines and streams with
bridges. During the march to MARI
boro recently the Engineers closely
watched all the State road bridges. and
at two of them the tanks we're re-
moved from the trucks in order % d.
vide the weight while going over these
4 spans.
Communications viii be very import
ant. for the movement of such a large
attacking force requires constant con-
tact with those charged with the duty
| of winning. and even in long column
| there must be accurate information as
TO what is going on at either end and
| In the middle Much Of this can be
done with the field radio, mounted on
| a light truck. and by dtSpatchers,
mounted on swift motor cycles,
| So. 1t Is the beginning of new era
| in warfare, which is destined 70 be-
come as important in the national de-
| tense as the airplane, which has made
such strides since the great conflict.