War and the Motorvan.
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Article No. 1; Use and Organization.--By T. E. Harrison.
The constant suggestlon ot invasion, by a great and ever-growing power, wlin-h is always organizing, training. and equipping for the struggle that may give it dome nation over Europe, and the attendant dangers to the British Empire, has so much engrossed the public mind with the condition of our insular defences dint but little thought has been given to the feet that such an invasion might be preceded by a. European campaign in Which this country would be c-ornpelled to protect the autonomy of Holland. Belgium and Denmark, with the dependent control of the North e;ea and the Baltic. which would otherwise pass to the fleet of victorious and e orldpolicy-impelled leaders.
Transport Requirements.
The despatch of a strong British force and its attendant transport would throw the Home defence on the Territorials, and the improvisation of a rapid column or transport and supply would be necessary. Up to the present, the War Department and various associations have registered and tabulated many classes of mechanical vehicles. but, probably from financial reasons, and by reason of the apathy of public opinion, much remains to he thine. If the war conditions outlined oecurred in the near future, heterogeneous collections of motors, manned by scratch crews, deficient in personnel, condition and spare parts. would be hurried to the scene of operatiens to line the roadsides with derelicts, with consequent delays and e age of of supplies, or, through ignorance of the tounua . to fall into the hands of the enemy. Further, the imprese me.nt by the military authorities of fleets of inotorvans, used by the great Stores for food distribution to the immense suburhen areas, would accentuate the difficulties : starvation and panic would be the inevitable resides. The admitted shortage of horses would render the maintenance of this civil commissariat difficult, and in smite instances impossible.
I would suggest the. formation of a Civil Transport Re.serve, under the coetrol of the War Office, but otherwise directed and manned by civilians drawn from the great delivery organizations of the kingdom. familiar with all
conditions of supply. Suitable motorvans and lorries should be registered, and, instead. of " scrateh " columns. complete fleets of Lacres, Daimlers, Calumet' Cars. Leylands, Halleys, etc., with regular drivers, aecompanied by their mechanics (knowing. as family physicians. every weakness of their charges,. stirred to the utmost by patriotism and a keen sense of rivalry in keeping the road, would sustain the transport for the army of detente.. Breakdown lorries, supplied with spare parts and the requisite tools for " first-aid repairs.' would accompany them—then, " on again." Supply cars would carry echol for the fleet, increasing its radius of action. The directing personnel should. I strongly maintain, be drawn hen: the transport. of great business houses and delivery cone
paniee, sprinkled with ex-..\.C.O.s of the Army S..Tvice Corps for guidance in actual service conditions.
"The Coast Patrol."
The appearance of a fleet of battleships, cruisers and smaller (Taft on the coasts even if it were only a " demonstration in force," would require the close watching of the water line. The decreaseu coastguard, further attenuated by the withdrawal of men for the lighting fleet, would render this duty difficult, but light vans, of the Laere and other well-known types, could ceaselessly patrol the coast with armed parties ready for surprises. In„tead of the beacon fires that announced the coming-up if the Spanish Armada, or that were prepared for the
threatened invasion of 1.5.” there would be heard the hum of the meter engine speeding horn point to point, searching each cove and streteh of beach.
General Features Training Imperative.
The registration of the vehicles should be accompanied by the issue of plates bearing the District No., Registration No. and the address ot mobilization centre. Sonic III per cent, of these vehicles might be massed each year for the annual Army Manteuvres, and they would prove cheaper, and more effective, than the present hired transport. This plan, also; would afford training in military requirements and conditions with the civil reserve. Its practical value would be enormous, and the range of its operations unlimited. The conveyance of troops will probably cause congestion of the railways, apart from likely derailment by the Invader. and that will render •` back to the highways ' imperative. There is. too, the supply of ammunition, food and stores, the removal of the wounded and ineffective:, to the hese, the performance of duties formerly allocated to dispatch riders and cyclists, and the keeping-touch with outlying posts or troops engaged in
• ' mosquito " tactic-s.
Everybody knows that speed is a great factor in the successful movements of a striking force, and that road motors can easily surpass horsed transport in this connection. Given fair roads, motor vehieles overcome the problem of the maintenance of supplies to a light cavalry force operating as screens some distance from their base; the use of motors on communications requires fewer men to guard the lines, and they cannot he readily impeded. Germany has, for some years, recognized the value of civil motor transport, and has heavily subsidized numerous vehicles, to which developments THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR has regularly given prominence in its columns. Why is there no corresponding stimulus to owners and drivers in the United Kingdom, where the contour of the country, the incidence of coast line and the mileage of roads in relation to total area are favourable to a degree? Now is the time to set about establishment and formation work, such as the laying-down of petrol depots and repair centres. There must he training and practice, in order to familiarize drivers with their duties, and there are not sufficient inducements at the present moment. It is too much to expect, however willing the men may be, that there can be immediate adaptation to the variety of duties which will fall to the meter arm, and which include the conveyance and handling of ammunition, of sine gical necessaries. of balloon equipment, of pontoons and other bridge material, the running of searchlight plant, etc.. etc. These are the duties for the light vans: the heavier vehicles must follow the flying column.
If a meeting of the great commercial magnates in the metropolitan and provincial centres were convened to discuss this scheme. I am sure that the sound business acumen of the creators of our commerce would quickly see the necessity for the Civil Transport Reserve, its possibilities, and its cheapness.