Evening Star Newspaper, September 15, 1935, Page 71

Swift Move-| ment of Infan- try Is Accom- plished by the Lighter and. Faster Trucks, Easing Midg- | et Autos and Motor Cycles. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., SEPTEMBER 15, 1935—PART FOUR. advances which make many of the efficlent vehicles and weapons of today obsolete, or, at least, obsolescent to- morrow. In the meantime, however, qualified manufacturing plants are in possession of blueprints of the latest developed materiel and are always learning the “know-how,” so that in emergency quantity produc- tion could start virtually overnight and the military power of the United States would not be handicapped, as at the outset of its World War par- ticipation, with a lot of antiquated, practically useless equipment. By William S. Odlin. ECENTLY it was discovered in' defined as the creation of “units Berlin that one of the latesi whose principal item of equipment | developments in Adolph Hic- | consists of self-propelled motor ve- | ler’s surprise military power is | hicles designed for combat pu: creation of means of moving his| poses and upon which weapons are armies at hitherto unheard-of speeds.| mounted.” Eighty miles an hour “over almost| pyuring the fiscal year 1935 the anything save woods” was mentioned | war Department lppgopmuon pro- | as the goal already in sight, achieved | yijeq $2,540,000 for mechanization through small motor vehicles, each ang motorization. The new appro- carrying only two soldiers and capable | priation sets aside $4,510,000 for those of an unprecedented flexibility of | purposes, which illustrates the grow- movement and speed. {ing belief of Congress in necessity | The idea, possibly, was germinated | for this modernization of the Army. by recollections of the historic “taXi- | Motorization also has been speeded cab army of Paris” which in the!yp py a $10,000,000 grant from the | early days of the World War helped | halt the onrushing German hordes at | the Marne and averted the quick cap- ture of the French capital contem- plated in the Kaiser's war plan. | That future conflicts will be titanic campaigns of movement in which speed will play a tremendous role is universally accepted and the United States’ military chieftains, fully aware of this, are not ignoring the fact nor failing to make preparations. Inquiry at the War Department, however, dis- closes experimentation along the pres- ent reported German lines of two-man high-speed cars is not a part of the present program of the Army. This does not mean that its possi- bilities have not been explored, but | it is the Army's conviction that the problem of the swift movement of Infantry is to be solved by lighter and faster trucks and not by midget automobiles or motor cycles. The 5-ton truck, carrying about 30 men, which lumbered through the World ‘War picture rapidly is being replaced by 3-ton, and even ton-and-a-half wvehicles, carrying a dozen or eighteen men. Mobility has been at least doubled, for trucks of today have almost the speed of modern passenger automobiles. The item of expense also 1s involved, for it is pointed out that great fleets of small cars would be more costly in acquisition, upkeep and operation than a far smaller number of trucks with virtually the same mobility. Similarly, four-wheel-drive motor vehicles are replacing the tra- ditional mule-drawn escort wagon, upon which troops depend for sup- Pplies of all kinds. The fleld trains of all Infantry regiments have been motorized and the 1st Division and two regiments of the 2d have been provided with experimental combat trains. The 66th Infantry, based at Fort Meade, Md, is a provisional tank regiment, con- sisting of approximately six light tank companies. Eventually it will have 144 of these newest weapons. THE Artillery also is slowly but sure- 1+ footedly going motor. Wheels of the Army cannon are now pneumatic- tired and ball-bearinged, in place of the familiar great wagon wheels which were found to burn out axles at the high speeds at which Artillery trucks now whisk the guns about the . The result is that Uncle Sam’s heavy Artillery now is com- pletely motorized and the light Ar- tilery is very largely converted to gasoline. The former now has sixteen 155-mm. howitzer batteries, one 155- mm. gun battery and one 240-mm. howitzer battery, all motor-drawn. The light Artillery consists of 33 horse: drawn batteries, 41 truck-drawn and 5 pack batteries, all equipped with 75-mm. guns., This progress is spread- ing even to the National Guard. All of the foregoing comes under the head of motorization, which, ac- cording to the Army definition, is creation of “units having assigned to them sufficient motor vehicles to meet its transportation and traction reuirements.” Far more impressive and romantic, however, is the Army's program of mechanization, which is The present mechanization pro- Public Works Administration, gram of the War Department con- Motorization of the Army is being | templates the mechanization of 1 accomplished by manufacture by mo- | brigade of 2 regiments out of 15 At top: Upper, left: Upper, right: Center: High-speed Army). Lower, right: Ga. (A. P. photo.) So it is upon the Cavalry that de- | volves responsibility for keeping this country upon at least parity with | the other powers in mechanization, | and tremendous strides already have | been made. The very latest Uncle | Sam has up his sieeve in this respect is hidden, of course, as a military secret, and Washington buzzes at times with tales of marvelous new inven- mechanized forces. These are matters which may not | be pried into but sufficient is open and | visible to show what has been accom- plished recently. One thing is a new light tank reputed to have made as high as a mile-a-minute over the Mount Vernon Memorial Boulevard, just beyond the National Capital. Out- side of the Army inner circles, how- | ever, little is known of this lightning- like weapon. Photographers and news- | men were shooed away when it was making its road test and it is still | famed Aberdeen, Md., proving ground. | But Army men will tell you, confl- | dentially, “it's & honey.” tor vehicle makers of types needed | active Cavalry regiments, mechaniza- | and according to specifications drawn | tion of 7 separate armored car troops up by military experts. In mechaniza- | for use with 3 Regular and 4 National tion parts are made by various com- ‘, Guard divisions, and a mechanized panies and the land warcraft are | platoon (scout car) for each of the assembled by the Army at its Rock | 13 Regular horse regiments. In addi- Island, IIl, arsenal. In each case | tion, the Infantry is being equipped it is not the purpose to load up the | with tanks and now has about 200, Army with completé equipment, both | many of them of the latest light, for reasons of expense and because | speedy model, capable of traveling of rapid technological and inventive ' cross-country at 35 miles an hour. THOSE WERE THE HAPPY DAYS! | E mechanization program of the { Cavalry has progressed to the point where one brigade headquarters, the Tth, and one regiment, sta- | tioned at Fort Knox, Ky, now is almost completely mechanized. And already it has made some notable dem- onstrations of its efficiency, including a march of 800 miles from Fort Knox to Fort Riley, Kans, where it man- RoLL JOUR GLEEVE UP ELMER. THE DocTorR WONT HURYT CUTTING ON THOSENEWS = Niens o E THTIMES “THIS ONE? SCHOOL. SOPPLIES SIATES-BooKS : ETC., 9. BRAD.ADAMS, Oth& ESTB.N\Ws VACCINATED ] (CEMEMBER HOW THE Docror WHOM YOO 1) | ONCE (ON(IDER ~EO YOURBEST FRIEND SODDENLY WO SEEMED _TO BE YoUR RST ENEMYD A — GIMMINY @ne of the newer units mechanized Army is this Cavalry armored car largely used for reconnaissance work. gunners and rifleman repelling an air attack from an armored truck (photos by Signal Corps, United States West Point cadets inspecting one of the Army’s great mobile forces at Fort Benning, tions increasing the power of its| | undergoing experimentation st the | United States Army trucks passing in review. A fleet of light tanks in field maneuvers. tanks in special formation. in Uncle Sam’s Lower, left: Machine euvered s month and returned under |its own power. None of the 189 | vehicles had any serious mechanical | difficulties and were so0 carefully man- aged also that they were involved in no traffic mishaps on either journey. Incidentally it is in the center of Fort Knox that the Federal Goy- ernment is just beginning construction of great subterranean vaults into billiors in gold coin and bullion will be moved. The step is taken to put this treasure out of reach of a possible enemy invader of the coast cities where it is now held and Fort Knox was selected not only because it is well inland but also because a powerful military defense of the treasure is on the spot in the form of mechanized cavalry. The commander of this outfit is Brig. Gen. Guy V. Henry, former chief of Cavalry, who has made a particu- lar study of mechanization. The regj- ment is the famous 1st Cavalry, whose colorful history dates back to the Revolutionary War. The regiment's it is noteworthy that nearly all of the rank and file of the regiment are former horse soldiers who have been to mechanical power, The motor equipment of the 1st Cavalry now consists of combat cars (tanks), machine gun carriers, ar- mored cars, personnel cdrriers and trains. The newest tank is a first- line combat weapon powered by an VES ( KNOW SONNY BUT YOL MUST BE VAWINATED \‘TOO I_, o~ CRICKETS WONT) % A ASAFETIDA BAG KEEP YOU X308t TH SAME / \ =, WHO (CEMEMBER! B3 \WWHEN PROE % CORRADI_ , X WAS THE CITYS ONLY SINGING TEACHERT/Y - which & large part of the Treasury's | commander is Col. Bruce Palmer and | schooled in the transitiongfrom animal | “School Days” L O 'UNCLE SAM SPEEDS UP ALL MECHANIZED ARMY UNITS < Army Mobil- i;it)/, Almost Doubled by aviation engine and designed to oper- | machine guns, one .50-caliber ma- ate either gn tractor belts or wheels. | chine gun and one .46-submachine | It is & highly mobile weapon with|gun and can hurtle itself over the sufficient armament and ammunition | ground at as high as 55 miles per | supply to provide sustained fire power | hour, a horror-inspiring metallic ap- | of & high order. Its armament con- parition. sists of six machine guns. This mechanized regiment is being The 1st Cavalry shares with all the | trained and equipped to operate either horse regiments the latest scout car, | independently or as a part of a larger | alry. It has about 550 men divided 7-7 is a four-wheel-drive vehicle, ca- | into & headquarters troop, 8 machine pable of a sustained speed of 45 miles | gun troop, and two squadrons of two per hour. It is used largely for liai- | troops each. One of these is called son purposes and its radio assists |8 covering squadron and the other a co-operation between aircraft and ' combat car squadron. When its equip- ground troops. Its crew consists of | ment is complete the regiment will | a driver, radioman and two gunners. | have about 75 fighting vehicles, equal- Armament of a .50-caliber anti-tank | 1y divided between the two squad- | gun and two machine guns make it a | Tons. The machine gun troop is es- | formidable weapon against various | sentially a “holding” element and elements of the foe. | boasts 25 machine guns which, with cars o4 their crews, are transported on half- _;l;l:e .Trfrll:rw e th:‘ t,};:e::t ::1:’1::112 track vehicles, resembling a cross be- tween an automobile and a tractor developed primarily for reconnais- 2 Enow 1 sance purposes. It is sufficiently ar- | and known as personnel carriers. mored for protection against rifie ball ‘The covering squadron is made up ammunition, the armor plate hull | of the armored car troop and a scout | serving as protective plating ~and | troop. The former's armored cars are chassis. It carries two Jo-uuber! designed primarily for use on roads, —By Dick Mansfield 76, each horse outfit having six. The HELEn 5 Yoo ?,o T’o;'.’ ELEN S CHEMMELPFENNI g),\?s KATE RAWLINGS ’\‘ 77iMi55 SU5AN CRAIQHILL / IMISS MAMIE SHIELOS et ODER MISS SARAH" NNA BIERS fvfl\l‘ssss’;nmv ARMISTEAD S MARTHR MECOTCHEN DOLIN. //4 WHAT DO You REMEMBER™ QNSWER TO LAST WEEKS QRQUESTION, HAT ABOOT BLACK FRIDAY. ANSWER, T OERIVED ITS NAME iérzo;vé-r'{‘-osv GQESA'FMONTgy ANIC | ALL STREE SEPT.26~1869. i EXT WEEK: A HERE (N WASHIN @ TON INDYARD ONCE SITOATE tHe T-1, of which the service now has | force, as is the case with horse cav- | | advantage. : ilfl;h School { Modern Inven- ' tion, Reaches a New Hi gh | Point in Effi- ‘cienc] on All Fronts. the principal function being to obtain information. The scout troop is & 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 mechanized regiment and consists of two troops of 13 combat cars each. IT 1S a military axiom that “time is the only thing irretrievably lost in war,” and upon this, of course, is predicated the yearning of all na- tions for greater mobility and speed for their armed forces. There are plenty of obstacles in their paths, however, and cognizant of these ti American Army is proceeding cau- tiously, if determinedly, upon the road to mechanization. It 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 8-foot stream without bridges is an impasse to mechanized units and if they are isolated without gas or oil—well, it's Jjust too bad. On this general subject the War Department says: “While mechanized 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 a 1l-inch map forms an | obstacle that becomes a serious one | if defended. Demolitions assume an unprecedented importance, and their skiliful use by the enemy in open warfare will reduce greatly the chances for & mechanized unit to carry out successfully a mission which requires movement over a great dis- tance. Mechanized 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 12 per cent of terrain suitable for using mechanized elements with any It 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 im= portant terrain features and for de- laying action. The scout cars of the horsed regiments and the armored cars of the mechanized regiment ex- tend greatly the zone of action of g eral reconnaissance of cavalry by day, linking up the air reconnaissance with that of horsed patrols. When it 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 mechanized cavalry, horse cavalry can operate over any terrain in daylight or darkness and its value lies in the rapidity with which it can transport its fire power to a critical point.” Incidentally, with the rise of a fire- breathing metal rival the cavalry | horse has achieved an astonishing im- provement, as though to justify the contentions of those who maintain he will always have his place in battle. — Cassidy Wright, 16, Enid, Okla, student, hitch-hiked 3,000 miles through eight States on $5.50 capital. ‘