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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 1914)
TTTE SUNDAY OISEGOXIAX. PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 20, 1914. BELGIUM IS FACTOR Army Still Force, Says J. N. Willys, on Return. WEED OF AUTOS IS TOLD .Manufacturer Asserts That Despite Cars Commandeered, All Warring Nations Are Eager to Ob tain All Available. TOLEDO. O., Sept. 19. (Special.) i The Belgian army is still a force to be considered in the' European war, according to John N. "WillyB, president f the Willys-Overland Company, of this city, who arrived in New York aboard the White Star liner Olympic Bhortly before the actual opening of hostilities, and witnessed the mobi lization of French troops. With Mrs. Willy3 and their young daughter, Mr. Willys was starting an automobile tour on the continent when the impending trouble forced them to abandon their plans and take refuge in England. Their escape from the teat of trouble was accomplished only after the loss of the greater part of their baggage and their new automo bile. The car was seized by the French eoldiers. "One of our London representatives returned from Brussels shortly before we sailed from Liverpool," said Mr. "Willys. ' "He asserted that the condi tions in Belgium were terrible and rapidly growing worse. He was one of five patrons who remained at the large Palace Hotel. --in Brussels, after the German invasion had started. Hotel Made Hoxpltal. "Before he left the entire hotel was turned into a hospital and was greatly overcrowded with dying and wounded eoldiers, both German and Belgian He declared that the carnage was much more terrible than persons who had not been on the field could Imagine. "Although .the Belgians are massed ot Antwerp, it is believed that when the opportunity arrives the Belgians will make themselves felt. "The Belgian war department pur chased 200 Overland cars to be used In transporting troops. "All the other nations involved in transplanting troops, supplies and am munition. For years France and Ger many have been subsidizing the major ity of motor trucks built in their own factories, and England was known to have a large number if army motor cars, but in spite of these elaborate precautions, the big armies in the field today are in dire need ot additional motor equipment. 22 Cars Sold In Day. "All the war departments are eager to obtain as many automobiles as possible for the use of their troops. While I was in London our branch there sold and delivered 22 Overland touring-cars to the English war de partment in one day for use in pa trolling and defending the coast. Im mediately upon receipt of the cars, the territorials chopped oft the tonneaus and mounted Maxim guns on the rear of the chassis. "When the mobilization of French soldiers started, we were in Paris and Immediately made plana to forestall possible difficulties by giving up the automobile tour of Europe, which we had proposed taking and making for England. "When we arrived in Dieppe we found the town entirely deserted except for women and children and a few. old men who were unable to bear arms. All business had been suspended. The proprietor of the hotel at which we stopped, with his entire corps of chefs and waiters, had responded to the call to arms. "It was with great difficulty that we obtained accommodations on the boat which took us to England. Just as we were going to take our auto mobile, which we had used less than a week, aboard the boat, it was seized by the French military aathorities, who commandeered the car for their own use. Many other American tourists suf fered the same loss. There are practi cally no motor cars operated by pri vate individuals in Europe today. BUiCK GROSSES GOUNTRY TOUR FROM LIMA, O., TO JOSEPH, OR., MADE I FIVE WEEKS, George Dlemer, Real Estate Agent, After Trip, Decides to Make His Home In Oregon. "To tour from Lima, O., to Joseph, Or., making several detours and cov ering a distance of 5587 miles for $12.00 lor two passengers, or (6.25 each, i cheaper than staying at home," says George Diemer, recently of Lima, O., who called at the Northwest Buick Company a few days ago. In speaking of the trip, Mr. Diemer eaiu that he was, until six weeks ago, actively engaged in the real estate business and as he had never had what might be called a regular vacation, he decided to find out what one looked like. Upon inquiry among his automo bile acquaintances, he decided that the Buick would be the most reliable car to accomplish his purpose. Having never owned an automobile. be decided he would go direct to the factory, to spend a week or 10 days familiarizing himself with the machine before setting out. "We drove through to Chicago, where we purcnasea a complete camping out fit. Our car, fully equipped, weighed 4000 pounds. After completing our camping outnt we headed for the Lin coin Highway and traversed it the en tire distance, except when making a couple or detours as tar south as Okla homa and north into Montana. "A person who has never crossed the continent has many surprises in store for him, as well as a delightful trip. "We were surprised more than once with the progress being made along the Lincoln Highway, and if the work continues as rapidly. It will not be many years before the trip from New York to San Francisco In an automo bile will not be thought of any more than the trip across the Atlantic. "We were on the road less than five weeks, actual running time four weeks and two days. Some days we covered as many as 300 miles. We averaged about 1000 miles a week. "Upon reaching Joseph, Or., where we stopped for a few days, we decided to remain on the Coast, and after dis posing of our car to the president of the State Bank for 12.50 less than the original cost five weeks before, we considered we had had an enjoyable vacation. . Automobile Show Committee Named. The National Automobile Chamber of commerce nas just announced its com mittees for the coming year and about the most important committee is the one having charge of the arreat Na tional shows. Thin vaut thA tAU4.n4Aa of the exhibitions will again be In the Hands oi turee pioneers of the Indus 0 .Model 80 Hectically Lighted asicl Started ! The unexpected! An Overland electrically started, electrically lighted, stream-line body, powerful, large five-passenger touring car priced at only $850. This is the first car of its size, ca pacity, power and electrical equipment to sell below $1000! Certainly never before has such big and exceptional value. at such an un usually low price, been offered. Though the price is lower than ever, the quality is maintained throughout. All materials, metals and workmanship are of the very best. We could not purchase nor produce with more precaution and precision. This new car is as fine and as finished internally as it is externally. This newest Overland has the genu ine fashionable stream-line bocty design. Its snappy, superb and stylish lines are the work of our master designers. The body color is Brewster; green always so rich and attractive.' It is neatly trimmed with fine hair-line strip ing of pure ivory white. The electric starting and electric lighting equipment is one of the most reliable and best established ori the market. - There is also a high r tension mag neto which is independent of the start ing and lighting system and requires no dry cells. This car rides just like it looks beautifully. The new, long, improved underslung rear springs give maximum riding comfort. No jolting or jarring on the road just absolute ease and smoothness at all times. Tires are 33 inch x 4 inch all around. Never before has. a car at this price come equipped with such large tires. It seats five adults comfortably, without crowding. It is a big, spacious five-passenger touring car. It has the famous Overland 30 h. p. motor of remarkable strength, speed, durability and economy, developing more power than you will ever require. With left-hand drive, center con ; trol, 33' x 4" tires, demountable rims (with one, extra) electric head, side, dash and tail lights, electric horn, top, top cover, robe rail, speedometer and ven tilating, rain-vision type windshield, this -car at this price is destined to be known as the greatest motor car achievement of the season. Orders are now hein taken for immediate delivery. J. W. LEAVITT & CO., DISTRIBUTORS, 529 Washington Street, Portland, Oregon. Following are a few of the many high grade features features that are usual- i ly found on cars costing considerably more money. 30 H. P. motor Stream-line body Ample room for five patMngtrs Electrically started Electrically lighted Electric born High-tension magneto All electric switches on instrument board of cowl dash Ventilating, rain-yision type windshield High-grade upholstery Thenno-syphon cooling Fire bearing crankshaft Rear axle ; floating type Rear springs ; extra long, underslung, 3-4 elliptic 106 inch wheelbase 33 inch x 4 inch tires Demountable rims One extra rim Left-hand drive Center Control Body colors Brewster green with ivory white striping Complete equipment, including speedometer, robe rail, tools, etc. The Willys-Overland Company Toledo, Ohio 0 4 TO. y oat. - ' ' Two-passenger Roadster, . Delivery Wagon with closed body, t'lt ivery Wagon with open body. - - $850 op . , "", - ine mrger rour-cyiinder LJverland Touring Car, 51075 35 H. P. four-passenger Coupe, $1600 AUprictif. . TtUdo. Oki, - try George Pope, of the Pope Com pany; Wilfred C. Leiand, of the Cadil lac Company, and Harold O. Smith, of the Premier Motor Manufacturing Com panyT of Indianapolis. MOTOR CARS . FOLLOW ROADS Impetus Given Highways Movement Cause of Demand for Autos. Increased activities in the building of good roads through the states of Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana and Kansas has resulted in a surprising demand for motor cars In that section, according to I E. Rood, district man ager for Dodge Bros. In St. Louis. Mr. Rood, who has just returned from a trip through the Southwest, states that rapid strides have been made In promoting the good roads movement and this is having an important effect on the sale of automobiles. "On my trip through Mississippi, for example, I found trackless ' routes through swampy land that have now been turned Into fine, durable roads which will withstand the heaviest kind. of traffic for years." says Mr. Rood. "In many counties good. roads days have been held, when every farmer, banker, business man and clerk for miles around turns out and performs 12 hours of the hardest kind of labor in the im provement of the highways." , MODOC ROAD TO BE IMPROVED v Citizens Arrange to Bring Lava Beds Within Reach of Motorists. KLAMATH FALLS. Or. Sept. 19. (Special.) The trip to the Modoc lava beds has long been an attraction, but the road has been so rough that few motorists have been willing to make the trial. A party is being made up to go from Klamath Falls and Merill, to Improve It by leveling the sliding plac es and raking away the smaller stones and breaking up and removing the larger ones. The members will carry provisions enough to last several days. The road lies partly in Klamath County, but mainly in Modoc County. Cal. It has hot been possible to Inter est the Modoc County Court In the improvement. , NEW GARS S001I READY LIGHTER PEERLESS NOT TO AF FECT HEAVIER MACHINES. Noticeable Mechanical Chans. Include Bevel Gear for Rear Axle, Con stant Level Gasoline Tank. Although it is understood that the Peerless Motorcar Company will soon announce a. light four-cylinder and a light six-cylinder car, both of which will sell at about $2000. the line of large six-cylinder cars which has been the chief product of the company for several years will be built and mar keted with undiminished vigor, accord ing to E L Keats, the local distrib utor for Peerless cars. i "The new model '47-Six,' retaining all the essentials of Peerless construc tion but, improved mechanically: and in body design in numerous details, has already been announced and de liveries have begun," said Mr. Keats. "A touring car for seven passengers and a limousine for the same number are the two body types offered as standard. In addition to these there are numerous special types which may be specially specified. These Include a five-passenger open car with divided front seat; a five-passenger sedan, a seven-passenger landaulet and a seven-passenger Berline-Limou-sine." Most noticeable among the mechan ical changes is the adoption of the spiral bevel gear for the rear axle. This produces much quieter operation. A constant level gasoline tank holdini a gallon has been mounted under the cowl to maintain a constant gasoline pressure on the carburetor. Dry cells have been added to 'the 'Ignition system for emergency starting in Winter. "The new "47 -Six' is considered at the factory the most attractive car the company has turned out. It is pro vided for a large part of the owners who have always driven large cars and prefer them in spite of the develop ment of the light car. HERCULES TIRES fff f mi non-siaa I t umu Worn Out V V -- The Tire That Stole the Skid From the Antomobilg Sea Island Fiber on edge, placed at acute angles -with u. .-r-: r !l vcvAf iuvi nvvcu Willi 111LL- VI -Jcrrade rubber, nreventa ents. li ' r VTmztnrzs, skidding and in- sures 5000 miles. F.H. SHERMAN, Gen. Agt. 335 Burnside, Nr. Broadway Phone MainOO i