Evening star., 1935-09-15
Army MobH-
ity, Almost
Doubled BY
NoderuMUen-
hon, Reaches a
New High
Pout in Eff
cheney on AN
Fronts.

the principal function being to obtain
information. The scout troop is a
combat element consisting Of machine
gun crews in combat cars and per-
sonnel carriers. The combat car squad
ron carries the real punch Of the
mechanical regiment and consists of
two troops Of IS combat cars each.
TT IS military axiom that slime is
the only thing irretrievably lost in
war" and upon this, Of course, is
predicated the yearning Of all ma
tions for greater mobility and speed
for their armed forces. There are
plenty of obstacles in their paths.
however, and cogniZant of these the
American Army is proceeding cau-
tiously, If determinedly. upon the road
to mechanization. 1t is agreed on
all sides that the foot soldier and
the horse always will hold in war a
place of first importance. Horses and
men can go several days without
forage or rations in an emergency
and still operate, and can fight in any
kind of terrain, wet or dry. As things
stand now, however, an 6-foot
stream without bridges is an impaSse
to mechanical units and if they are
isolated without gas or oil-well, it's
just too bad.
On this general subject the War
Department says:
while mechanical units, when un-
opposed, can move rapidly on roads.
they are more sensitive to ground
than any other troops and must pro-
ceed cautiously over unreconnoitered
ground. Any stream large enough to
show on q 1-inch map forms an
obstacle that becomes a serious one
If defended. Demolitions assume an
unprecedented importance, and their
shllful use by the enemy in open
warfare will reduce greatly the
chances for a mechanical unit to
carry out successfully a mission which
requires movement over a great dis
tance. Mechanical units are very
vulnerable to an enterprising enemy
at night and are, at all times. abso-
lutely dependent on the gasoline sup
ply"
Experts estimate that throughout
any possible zone of military opera
tions there is an average Of not more
than IL per cent Of terrain suitable for
using mechanical elements with any
advantage. 1t Is upon this, very
largely, that they base their con-
viction Of the continued necessity Of
horse and foot soldiers In all wars.
But on the favorable side of mech
anized warfare the Army says:
'Mechanized units have great offen-
sive power and can cover long dis
tances by road at high speed. and are
particularly valuable for seizing i'm
portant terrain features and for de-
laying action. The scout cars Of the
horsed regiments and the armored
cars Of the mechanical regiment ex-
tend greatly the zone of action Of gen.
eral reconnaissance Of cavalry by day.
linking up the air reconnaissance with
that Of horsed patrols. When Il comes
to the specific reconnaissance Of .
locality where detailed information
not obtainable from vehicles or their
immediate vicinity is required, resort
must be had to men on horse or foot.
While lacking the crushing power Of
mechanical cavalry, horse cavalry can
operate over any terrain In daylight or
darkness and its value lies in the
rapidity with which 1t can transport
its fire power to critical point"
incidentally, with the rise of a fire.
breathing metal rival the cavalry
horse has achieved an astonishing i'm
provement, as though to justify the
contentious of those who maintain he
will always have his place in battle.