In Europe nearly all the work of transpor tation from railroad is by motor. To give some idea of the extent of the transportation prob lem, the example of a division may be taken. This is the administrative and tactical unit and comprises 22,665 men, 4,463 horses and 2,912 mules. The daily march averages miles and the road space is 15.4 miles. The daily supplies of a division weigh 175,000 pounds. The net cargo in the supply trains of a division, exclusive of pack trains and artillery ammuni tion, is 2,143,000 pounds. These supplies and the regularity of renewal are essential to the well-being and morale of an army.
Lines of communication comprise the base section, where supplies are accumulated and forwarded by rail and boat; the intermediate section, comprising the transportation routes to railroad; and the advance section, where is found the great problem of the daily renewal of the supplies expended, amounting to 175,000 pounds for a division. The division supply train carries two days' food for the men and two days' forage for the animals. The division train transports supplies from the refilling point to the distributing point, whence distribution to the troops is made by the ration and field trains. On wagon transportation, capable of a daily movement of only 18 miles, a division has a very limited radius of action from railhead.
Ammunition expenditure, both artillery and small arms, is enormous, and transportation must be provided accordingly. The daily ex penditure per man for small arms ammunition, formerly calculated at 240 rounds, is now cal culated at 1,000 rounds per day in action. The Germans have 48 machine guns per regiment.
For efficiency in supply, proper organization must be had in the transport. In motor trans port, the unit is the truck, its driver and his helper, and the best truck for general purposes appears to be the 154-ton truck. These units must be organized into companies. Companies must be limited to the number of trucks that can be properly supervised by one man, and also to the number that can be properly served by one supply and repair truck. In addition to the supply and repair truck, arrangements must be made for shops where more extensive re pairs can be made.
The most convenient and efficient division supply train is made up of two units, each com prising 60 baggage trucks, 1% ton; three fuel supply trucks; three repair trucks; one office truck; four high-speed cars for officers; eight motorcycles. This corresponds to an organiza tion of squads of five trucks, two squads to a section, two sections to a platoon and three platoons to a company, with a personnel of a captain, three lieutenants and 154 men.