Our Despatches from the Front (No. 126).
Page 15
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Organizing the Allotment of Motor Lorries to Special Detachments.
WITH A THYNELLING CO., January, 1,917.
If folks at home are inclined to get impatient at the dearth of news of the activities of our big armies they must rest assured that in countless big and little ways those armies on active service are being brought to a higher pitch of efficiency, so that when the time comes the Boches will realize that they are up against something mighty unpleasant. Just a small instance of one of the minor improvements which will help to make this huge machine, the British Army in France, work more smoothly.
Mixed Fleets for Tunnelling Companies.
Hitherto the small detached M.T. units, such as those working for tunnelling companies, have changed their lorries frequently on account of the high proportion of casualties due to very heavy transport duties. Probably on this account we M.T.fi who work for tunnellers have had to use mixed fleets, which -has meant increased difficulties for our temporary, workshop-parents who . take care of us while we are attached to their divisions.
An Improvement—One Make Only.
Now arrangements have been made for each little detachment to have one make of lorry only. This will simplify the question of stocking those few spares, such as road springs, which it is essential to have right on the spot with the vehicles, and it will be generally helpful in case of having temporarily to shift a driver on to another vehicle belonging to the unit.
Repair Workshops Very Thankful.
As to the harassed people who do our workshop repairs, one of their greatest bugbears will be rendered far less formidable. They do not like detached units a bit, but regard them as an unmitigated evil. My awn company has exchanged a mixed and ancient lot of small and large Daimlers and a Cornrner for what the Canadians would term "a bunch of Thornycroft trucks," from which I am hoping for the best. Is it possible that in the near future I shall cease to be known as "Old Iron" in our
N.C.O.s1 mess? The R.E.s are exacting, but because they do not altogether understand lorries they do not realize it.
I have observed lately that great efforts are being made to pool motor transport in the Army Corps, which at present embraces this unit, so that units temporarily short of lorries borrow from those which are not working their transport to its full, capacity. There is a disposition also ,towards the reduction of empty runs by arranging for return loads, somewhat. on the principle which is applied in business, and which will be applied to a. very much greater extent in the future.
Eliminating Waste Running.
Specially-deputed officers and N.C.O.s make a round of visits to users who have occasion to borrow motor transport, receive complaints, and consult with the users as to possible revision of their loads and times to avoid overloading, waste, waiting about or idle (empty) running. Only by such efforts will the available lorries ever he worked to anything like their full capacity. •
It is good and encouraging to note these signs of active cooperation towards maximum efficiency. Which reminds me that a, noticeable effort, and a successful one, towards transport economy on a, certain sector of our front, instituted about twelve months ago, was said by M.T. men I have met to have been the result of suggestions by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, who was then on the staff in that region.