Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-25

padded. A leather helmet, also
padded, protects the head. If one
gets bumped about the head while
riding it can be his own fault. The
strap holds you securely, and bracing
at the right moment or relaxing,
and, above all, by unclinching your
teeth, you can take the jolts and like
it. The helmet is the best means Of
protecting ones skull while getting
in and out Of these crazy contrap-
lions.
The tanks went from IS to IS
miles an hour. depending on the ma
ture of the terrain. Hard spots were
picked out, gullies as well as mounds.
Nose down and up again, with a
jolting swerve that made you feel
glad Of the belt. The drivers en-
joyed 1t thoroughly at our expense.
Taking a fallen tree trunk isn't
the easiest thing, but first the tank
slows up and the jolt Is softened
Sometimes it would hit the ground
with a smash that Jared to the
spine.
A roaring, Gathering tank is a
fearsome sight, as modern armies
have learned. Seeing 1t. one thinks
What fine chance one would
have in crashing through the morn
ing or afternoon rush hour traffic
in Washington in one Of these
wagons"
But that dash over the FL Paso
mesa in scout car was more jar
ring and there was no saving life
pelt or cushioned seat.
Scout cars are used to convey
troops or machine gun crew, part
Of the new mechanical brigade OF
cavalary. They resemble a ngh,
truck. Gen. Robertson had an OBJ.
ject In mind. He had told us the
night before that there always will be
horses in the cavalry for the simple
reason that horses can 60 where
motor cars can't 60. He proved ii
that day to our complete satisfac-
ton.
That ride was q feat of driving
skill. No ground could be more
treacherous or deceptive in appear
ance. One can manage better by
standing upright, holding on to
something. We had to sit because
our guide stood up and held to the
only brace. Hitting one of those
small mounds that are everywhere
meant bounce for at least a foot
and a none-too-soft return. The
car would swerve in and out and
around. We could only hang or
grimly, like the soft city folk thai
we are. and grin and bear it.
Horses Pass Stalled Car.
Finally the cars came to a dead
halt. Ahead was q deep and Jagged
decline. No scout car could make
nor venture it. We sat there and
watched the mounted machine guns
go by, the horsemen dashing wildly
down the steep banks in Texas cow
boy fashion. Even on the Level
ground the horse cavalry galloped
past us at points where the scout
cars faltered and groaned.
A similar experience at Fort Sam
Houston, Tex, in a I'd Infantry d.
vision command car which strug-
gled through Texas gumbo gave us
all we desired of that mode of I'M
gentle travel Except for the noise,
a tank is right comfortable vehicle.
At Fort Benning, the I'd Tank
Division Is carving an enormous new
camp out of section of these Geor-
gia pine woods. Carpenters were
working on Sunday as on any other
day in three 8-hour shifts to get
ready for the II, 900 men the division
will move in, beginning next month
or so.
The equipment Of an armored
division costs SIS, 000, 900. The new
camp will cost around $4,000, 900.
An armored division is expensive
but in wartime, its supporters say,
it's worth every dollar.
The new camp will be city of
around $4,000 population in time,
just as Fort Benning today Is city
Of $4,000 troops and growing rapidly