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
