PREFACE

The transport of food and war material from the terminus of the railway to the camp is of the utmost importance to the army, and calls for the employment of all available means. Boad transport by means of mechanical traction is now so developed as to be worthy of serious consideration in conjunction with horse traction for war purposes, and for this reason an attempt to set out the possibilities offered by various methods of mechanical traction may be justified.

PREFACE

The transport of food and war material from the terminus of the railway to the camp is of the utmost importance to the army, and calls for the employment of all available means. Boad transport by means of mechanical traction is now so developed as to be worthy of serious consideration in conjunction with horse traction for war purposes, and for this reason an attempt to set out the possibilities offered by various methods of mechanical traction may be justified.

TRANSLATOR’S NOTE

Being greatly interested in the use of the traction engine and other automobiles in war, I am glad to present English and American military officers and engineers with an English edition of this, as I venture to think, most valuable and suggestive work by Lieutenant-Colonel Layriz.

I have added some footnotes, and references in the Appendix to the use of the traction engine in the South African War, etc., also an account of the Thousand Mile Motor Car Trial, which, under the auspices of the Automobile Club, has recently taken place with such striking success.

To the illustrations I have added the interesting pictures of early road engines and carriages,—the forerunners of the great automobile army now coming into existence in all parts of the world.

By the courtesy of the proprietors of the Daily Graphic I have been able to give some illustrations of the armoured road train recently ordered by Lord Roberts.  R. B. MARSTON.

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Mechanical Traction a necessity

Reserve Supplies as well as Requisitions necessary

Mechanical Traction for bringing up Guns against Sperrforte

Fortified Positions, or Entrenchments

Too late to arrange for Mechanical Traction when War begins

There should be no Technical Improvisations in War

Cost of creating Mechanical Traction Plant

The Locomotive is also an Automobile and useful in War

Chapter 2 – History of mechanical transport

The Road Traction Engine the Forerunner of the Railway Engine

Early Difficulties of Road Traction Engine in England

With the Development of Railways the Road Engine is forgotten

New Departure in the Evolution of the Road Locomotive growing out of the Locomobile Engine

Attempts in cross-country Engine-driving

First Use of Traction Engine in War

Failure of the Road Locomotive in Germany

Shall Branch Lines or Automobile Road Traction supplement Main Line Traffic

The Development of Tramways hindered the Introduction of Automobiles not running on Rails,

Chapter 3 – The automobile without train

Experiments with Light, Rapid Automobiles

Experiments with Automobiles for Heavy Loads

Justification of Attempts to introduce Mechanical Traction generally

The Exigencies of War the Standard of Utility as regards Employment of Mechanical Traction with an Army

Importance of the Daimler Motor in the Development of Light Automobile Vehicles

Is the Incandescent Tube or Electric Ignition preferable

Danger of Benzine as Fuel

Drawbacks in use of Petroleum

Use of Spirit

Importance of the Rubber Tyre in Motor Carriages

Has the Courier Service the same importance as formerly?

Transport of Ammunition and Wounded

Use as Kitchen and Tool Wagons

The Cycle Corps and light Motor Cars

Experiments with Light Automobiles

Experiments with Heavy Automobiles

Keeping the Roads clear at Night an absolute necessity

Chapter 4 – The automobile as Traction Engine

The Steam Motor in Competition with other kinds of Motors

Use of Mechanical Traction in different Armies

The Steam Motor more suited for Heavy Traction than others

Apparent Lighter Weight of the Oil Motor

The Steam Road Locomotive successfully used in War

Inadequate Communications in 1870 between the German Armies and Germany

Need of substitutes for Animal Traction in the Campaign in Bosnia in 1878

In future Wars, use of Railways in an Enemy’s Country only to be reckoned on at a late Period

Breakdown of Animal Traction in the Campaign of 1812

Mechanical Traction as safeguard in case of Epidemics among Draught Animals

Cause of Dislike of Mechanical Traction in the Army

Particulars of the Work done by Traction Engines in the War of 1870

Precarious Supply Arrangements for the Army before Paris

Results obtained with the two Traction Engines used by the Germans in the 1870 Campaign

Interruption of the German Experiments with Road Traction Engines..

Extended Experiments with Traction Engines in Italy between 1875 and 1883

Complaints against Traction Engines in Italy

Special Wheel Construction for Protection against Shocks and Jolting

Present Construction of the Road Locomotive

Use of the Steam Road Engine as a Stationary Power Engine

Use of the Steam Road Engine and Crane combined

Delay in Transport of Guns when only Men and Horses are employed

Instance of how Traction Engines may be used to get Guns into Commanding Positions

Chapter 5 - A motor car which can be used both as automobile and for traction

The Serpollet Steam Car

Peculiar Construction of the Serpollet Motor

Special Advantages of the Serpollet Motor Gar

Drawback to Use for Military Purposes

Trial Races with Steam Wagons at Liverpool, 1898

Steam Road Engines or Steam Wagons

Comparison between Transport Trains drawn by Traction Engines and other Automobiles

Chapter 6 - Attempts to replace the steam motor by other kinds of motors

Chief Defect of the Steam Engine

A New Heat Motor in View

Peculiarities of the Diesel Motor

Advantages of the Diesel Motor for Military Purposes

Advantages of Electric Motors for Traction Purposes

Advantages of Rotation Motors

The Electric Motor a Rotary Motor

Other Advantages of the Electro-motor for Military Purposes

Accumulators for Automobile Vehicles

The Traction Engine superior to other Automobiles, as it can be used in so many different Ways

Transport of Preserved Meat in place of Cattle for Slaughter

Facilities for the Formation of Supply Magazines

Even the very imperfect Traction Engine of 1870 got through when other Vehicles turned back

Coal and Wood as easily obtainable in War Time as Oats and Hay

How to form a Staff of Trained Drivers for Traction Engines

The Traction Engine Economical on account of its Durability

Formation of a Trained Traction Engine Corps

Other Advantages to be looked for from the Formation of a Traction Engine Park and Staff in Peace Time

Chapter 7 - Relation of supply transport by means of traction engines to that by field railways

Road Traction Engines useful as supplementing the Field Railway

Road Traction Engines collect Field Railway Material before Fortresses

Employment of Road Traction Engines in connection with Lines of Rails away from the Road

Conversion of the Road Traction Engine into a Railway Locomotive

Electric Field Railway in combination with the Road Traction Engine carrying a Dynamo

Chapter 8 - Mechanical road traction must be general in a county before it can be usefully employed in war time

Requisition of Traction Engines in War Time

Employment of ordinary Traction Engines for hauling Loads on Roads

Use of the Road Locomotive in Steam Ploughing

Prospect of general employment of the Steam Plough in Germany

Railroads increased the Importance of Ordinary Roads

Better Roads demanded by the Advent of the Cyclist

Different Methods of Repairing Roads
Value of the Steam Road Roller for Military Purposes

Employment of Traction Engines in the Colonies

Difficulties of Traffic with Traction Engines in the Colonies

Use of Benzine Automobiles in the Colonies

Use of Traction Engines in the South African Campaign

Appendix

Resume of experiments in mechanical traction with road locomotives for war purposes

French Experiments, 1875

Russian Experiments, 1876

Employment of Road Traction Engines in the Russo-Turkish War 1877-78

Experiments in Italy, 1876-83

Experiments in Switzerland in 1892

English Experiments in 1858, 1877, 1893, and 1898

Experiments in Germany

The Traction Engine in South Africa

Presidents Steyn and Kruger introduced to it

The Traction Engine in Uganda,

Traction Engines ordered for the South African War—Colonel Templar’s Special Corps

Mr. Bennett Burleigh praises the work of the Traction Engines at the passage of the Tugela

Value and Use of Armoured Road Trains

Lord Roberts orders an Armoured Road Train

Traction Engines not used in the American Army

The Thousand Mile Motor Trial and Mr. Balfour’s Dream

Major Crompton’s Electric Train and Cyclist Telephone Corps