More About the Aldershot Parade.
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By a Local Observer.
During the recent visit of his Majesty King George to Aldershot, where he personally inspected the various units and formations of his loyal troops, both M actual training and mimic combat, his Majesty was able to judge the degree of advancement and progress made in the army during the last few years.
What might be styled an "unrehearsed set-piece" formed a most-fitting conclusion to one of his Majesty's hard-worked morning rounds of inspect, on. This _piece was one that should be highly interesting to all commercial-motor users, and one to which not only the administrative but also the general staff of the army have of late paid most close attention ; it was a grand example of the great progress and advancement which motor transport has effected in the army alike with the commercial world.
As his Majesty, riding back across the Long Valley, was drawing near the grounds of the Royal Pavilion, he graciously consented to inspect one of the latest formed units of the army, viz., an Army Service Corps Mechanical Transport Supply Column [For photograph, see last week's issue—ED.]. The parade in question was practically the first real organized motor-transport parade ever held with proper formations, intervals, distances, etc., as is customary with army units. The supply column, as its name implies, is the transport unit carrying one day's food and grain for the actual troops in the field. This food and grain is carried in the usual three-ton petrol lorries of commerce, four of these lorries carrying sufficient supplies for one complete brigade--approximately 4000 troops. The column was organized in three sections, i.e., for three d:stiuct brigades of about 12,000 troops each, with its first-aid and spare vehicles. In addition, there were two mobile repair units, each consisting of a light steam tractor hauling a truck containing the usual machine tools for executing any ordinary repairs in the field, also one light steam tractor fitted with a crane for lifting purposes, drawing a store-truck complete with stores, spares, etc., for use with the repair units.
Although the parade consiF.ted of some po vehicles and 130 officers and men, drawn up in line of sections with proper intervals and distances, the entire space occupied only consisted of some 700 sq. yds., a fact which must have considerably relieved the minds of those generals who may have to be responsible for the protection of their lines of communication in future operations.
After his Majesty had ridden round and carefully inspected all the vehicles of the column, her Majesty the Queen, with other ladies of the household, walked through the lines of the column and took a great interest in the mechanical vehicles, especially the repair units, which were actually working so as to demonstrate their utility to their Majesties. This parade left no doubt in the minds of those who saw it that the army has made great progress recently in the mechanical-transport service, and I fear that it is principally the parsimonious supply of funds for initial outlay, with perhaps too great a tendency to consider technical theory before practical experience, that has prevented this progress from being very much greater still. The inspection caused great interest in camp. It was unprecedented.