Automobiles, Military; World War, 1914-1918 -- Transportation
Considerations of Design of Emergency Ambulances--Points to
be borne in Mind--Some Examples of Practical Designs now in
Service--The Work of Motor Ambulances at the Front--Scouring the
Battlefields--How the British Red Cross Society gets its Fleet.
Among military uses of motor vehicles, the motor ambulance probably
comes next in order of importance after the transport and supply
waggons. Evidently with the motor ambulance must be grouped cars
suitable for use in carrying wounded men who are not obliged to be
transported in a recumbent position, and even ordinary touring cars
when employed, as they are being somewhat extensively at the present
moment, for taking convalescent men on health-giving motor trips. This
last is a quite useful class of work in which even those motorists
can participate who are only able to offer their services and those of
their cars in the vicinity of their own homes and at specified hours.
In times of peace, the motor ambulance proper is, so far as its chassis
is concerned, more akin to an industrial vehicle than to a touring car.
The heavier examples, in some cases, run on solid rubber tyres, and
in others on twin pneumatics, while the lighter types are fitted with
single pneumatics of heavy section. In detail, the chassis is simple
and strong, and well adapted to be put under the charge of a driver
of only average mechanical ability. The principal points are that the
vehicles should be silent in running, not liable to derangement and
extremely well sprung. Owing to the first consideration, worm-driven
chassis are particularly suitable for this class of work, and owing to
the second a slightly modified light van chassis is generally to be
preferred to the highly-refined but more complicated touring car.
[Illustration: AMBULANCE DRILL OF THE CITY OF LONDON BRANCH OF THE
BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY, USING CARS FITTED WITH THE B.H.S. SPRING
STRETCHER-SUSPENSION.
LIFTING THE STRETCHER.]
[Illustration: LOADING THE STRETCHER INTO THE CAR BODY. IT IS
AFTERWARDS RAISED FORE AND AFT AND ATTACHED BY STRAPS TO THE SPRING
HOOKS PROVIDED. NOTE THE MEN RUNNING TO THE FRONT TO LIFT THE FORWARD
HANDLES.]
[Illustration: A TOURING CAR EQUIPPED WITH A FOUR-STRETCHER AMBULANCE
BODY BY MESSRS. BROWN, HUGHES AND STRACHAN, TO THE ORDER OF THE DUCHESS
OF WESTMINSTER.]
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