AMERICA'S COMMERCIAL VEHICLE EXPORTS.
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HEREAS THE EXPORTS in commercial motor vehicles from the U.S.A. to England. France and Russia in the two years preceding the war amounted to 410 in all, during the three years which ended on 30th June, 1,917, the LLS.A. had. Sent to those three countries no fewer than 45,308 vehicles. This on the authority of Mr. John N. Willys, president of the Willys Overland Co., in an address delivered at the fifth National Foreign Trade Convention, a report of the proceedings of which has just reached this country. The value of the total exports of commercial and passenger cars in the year ending 30th June, 1917, was 88,347,739 dollars, whilst, adding automobile engines, tyres and parts, the total expert of the automobile industry for the year amounted to more than 140,000,000 dollars, very nearly equalling the total exports of all railroad locomotives and Cars, all electrical machines and apparatus, and all agricultural machinery combined. it is not known how many commercial vehicles have gone to Europe for the U.S.A. Army, as the figures are not published in the summaries of exports issued by the Department of Commerce, but, approximately, 20,000 lorries had been bought by the U.S. Army, and ip,Doo more ordered up to the 1st February last, at which time requirements were in sight for 10,000 to 15,000 more, for which orders had not been placed. Mr. Willys stated that it was calculated last year that the armies on all fronts 'were using more than
300,000 motor vehicles, and he 'asserts that the armies having the best transport and the best air service will win.. The transport service is organized on a motor lorry basis, officers have increased -their efficiency many times by the use of motorcars, despatch riders', are mounted on motorcycles, tanks lead the infantry in advances against the -enemy, the injured are hurried to hoSpitaIs in motor ambulances, heavy ordnance is hauled by motor trucks, and aeroplanes keep the come ixiandera advised of 'enemy movements, drop bombs . on the concentrations and depots, and pour fusilades from machine guns into the trenches and on advancing. troops. • From the time when the first movement of
British forces across the Channel was accompanied by the motor omnibuses of London, which carried troops to the Front, the commercial vehicle has played an absolutely leading part throughout the whole of the hostilities.
Mr. Willys has pointed out to -his compatriots that, after the war, England, France and Germany will be strong .competitors of the American motorcar trade, and says that it will be unfortunate if anything should happen to require the American manufacturers to start at scratch again after having -established their present lead. It will be generally apparent, therefore, to everyone in this country interested in motor . transport that the Americans are fully alive to the circumstances and Will not allow the grass to grow under their feet, se that it behoves -the British manufacturer equally to be up and doing.