uu UNCLE SAM'S HORSELESS BATTERY. It is not a matter of general knowledge, knowl-edge, perhaps, that the United States has one of the most modern artillery regiments in the world. Several years ago, even in army circles, tho suggestion sug-gestion that horses would bo discarded dis-carded in favor of motor traction for field artillery would have elicited inquiry in-quiry as to the sanity of thc progressive. progres-sive. Yet this is just what is rapidly happening, and though the tremendous tremend-ous conflict being waged in Europe has dwarfed our perspective in regard lo our own army somewhat, it can be truthfully said that Insofar as equipmont and efficiency are concerned, con-cerned, there is not an artillery regiment regi-ment in Europe today that is the equal of tho Ninth Heavy Field Artillery of the United States army. There isn't a horse for any purpose pur-pose in this regiment. The colonel, by means of a light automobile, can be at any ono of a dozen points along the lino almost In a moment. The ot-ficers ot-ficers rapidly move from point to point in motorcycles equipped with "bathtub" side cars. Trucks driving with all four wheels can hustle up ammunition with a speed and regularity regu-larity impossible with horses. Caterpillar Cater-pillar tractors handle tho guns with ease up grades, through mud and over rough ground with surprising efficiency and certainty. This regiment, organized in Hawaii some time ago, is tho only one of its kind in the world unless some others have since been organized or-ganized by Uncle Sam, without so a'dvising us. Organization of others was ordered Immediately after it was proved that the Ninth Field Artillery Regiment was the best in the service. For the tractor part of its equipment, equip-ment, thirty "caterpillar" forty -five tractors are used. Tho use of these tractors and of the trucks and motorcycles motor-cycles has not only made it possible to employ larger field guns, but has eliminated approximately 10000 horses per regiment. The money saving per regiment is estimated at $40,000 in first cost, this being tho approximate difference between the first cost ol a horse-equipped regiment and the motorized mo-torized regiment. In addition there is an annual saving in pay, clothing, rations ra-tions and forago of about $25,000. Pittsburgh Dispatch. oo