AMERICA'S VITAL Al IN ARMY TRANSPORT
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IN the early days of the war subIstantial numbers of civilian vehicles were requisitioned by the British military authorities and farsighted operators foresaw the likelihood of still further impressment as the campaign developed. The fact that such fears have proved groundless is due largely to the steady flow of load carrying machines frOrn America. True, some time elapsed before the British Services and civilian-transport operators felt any relief as a result of the efforts of the mass-production wizards of the American automobile industry. Now, however, there are thousands of the most modern machines in use and fighting vehicles are also making their appearance in the ranks of British military equipment.
To meet the requirements of the United States own defence pro
gramme, as well as to supply ...British and Allied forces, the productivity of American plants is being rapidly expanded and tens of thousands of workers are concentrated on building vehicles for ditence uses, instead of on the seasonal private-car trade.
News has just reached this country that, the important Marmon-Herrington plant has now attained five times the capacity of a year ago. The Marmon-Herrington Co., Inc.., the products of which were reviewed in 'The Commercial Motor" dated August 8. has two advantages over most defence estab lishments in the U.S.A. First, since its inception the company has been building the same types of vehicle, which are in such great demand ' to-day, for American military needs, for friendly foreign governments and for difficult industrial services.
Secondly, Marnlon Herrington officials can claim that by reason of experience in the 1914-18 war, also because of considerable travel in Europe and the East since that time; they have had an unusual opportunity of estimating the direction in which international political forces were tending.
Realizing that war clouds were fast gathering, but not knowing how soon they would break, the company laid its plans so that new systems could be put into operation when the conflict broke out. By reason of this ' careful weighing of the situation, most of which was done years ago, machine tools were ordered well in advance and there has been no need to wait for the completion of new construction before increasing output to meet current dinands.
As many read,ers will be aware, MarmonHerrington all.wheel drive commercial vehicles and cars have had an extensive sale, because of their ability to negotiate deep mud, sand or snow, and to climb exceptionally steep gradients'. They are used extensively in oilfields and forests, and for snow removal arwl constructional work of all kinds. Built in many sizes, MarmonHerrington vehicles have very large loadcarrying capacities, the company also converts standard Ford trucks and cars to the all-wheel-drive system of propulsion.
The company's first moves were to expand, the original lorry-assembly building to twice its length, to add an extra floor to the administration block (so as to house a greatly expanded engineering department and drawing .office), and to double the size of the machine-shop -building, where components for MarmonHerrington lorries, track-laying tractors and Tanks are machined and finished.
Immediately afterwards came the erection of an entirely newrassemblyline building for tractors and Tanks, the same size as the enlarged original building. Now four other constructional projects are nearing comple
tion. Steel is bridging the space between the two large assembly-line buildings; a slightly smaller block, to be used as an engineering and experimental department, is practically finished. Despatch departments have been increased in size, whilst an extra floor on the personnel and recreational building for employees is ready for occupation.
Other large plants are expanding quickly, in many cases their growth being facilitated by the employment of specially rapid construction processes.
In Great Britain, the spotlight of publicity tends naturally to be focussed upon American aid in the form of aircraft. Aeroplanes are coining over in large numbers, but transport for the ground forces is equally essential, and in this direction, too, America is playing a splendid part.