Salt Lake Tribune | 1916-06-04 | Page 44 | Motor Vehicles Help Save Verdun

MOTOR VEHICLES HELP SI VER01 Further reference to the importance and the extensivo use made of motor ears in the war is contained in H. "Warner Allen 's report of the operations around Verdun. Ho says: Long before tho assault on Verdun Ver-dun the Trench high command was nwure that tho railway between Verdun and Sto. Menehould through the Argonne would, in case of an attack, bo cut by the German hcavv guns, and that it would need to be supplemented by a motor transport system. Early in February, therefore, a special commission was constituted for tho region, which had to arrange ar-range a service of 4000 vehicles. All these had to be provided with great quantities of petrol, oil and grease. The general principle was for the Aleuso railway to be restricted as i'ar as possible to the transport of provisions, while the cars were to bring up men, ammunition and other oth-er material. The road to Verdun was reserved for motor traffic, and the traffic was regulated by a special body of men. For the mending of the Toad a considerable number of experienced road-menders was detailed. For policing po-licing the road wis divided into sections, each in charge of an officer. offi-cer. At noon on February 22 the day after the battlo began this organization organ-ization was first put to the tost. Within four hours the road was free of all horse drawn traffic, and has been so since.