European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 25, 1953, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Military bus service links Heidelberg with american installations in France by Dave staff writer to the Layman May mean just an if other Xyz combination of letters in these Days of alphabet organizations and but to army transportation corps personnel it Means Mili tary express and passenger such a connecting Heidelberg Usa eur he with com z installations in is now in its fourth month of a week before the Heidelberg Verdun bus run maj Gen Samuel Stur then com z announced that a com z intercity utilizing new twin City commercial Type had been put into operation Between la to Orleans and there this com z bus service was extended to include reached from la Rochelle daily except stretching from Bordeaux and la Rochelle in the extreme Western part of France to in West the bus service forms a new link in the Long line of communications so vital for the successful operation of North Atlantic treaty organization forces stationed along the in Brig Gen Bertram Usa eur chief of transport said the service is available to personnel stationed in Europe with forces and gave responsibility for the operation of the Heidelberg Verdun run to the 37th transportation Highway transport under command of col Gerald the 28th to commanded by it col Elias Liakos was Given the responsibility of operating the equipment and furnishing com col Donald com 2 transportation directs the 9th trans Highway transport Gas operations of the military motor express and Pas Senger service As it is termed Headquarters Are in Orleans where capt Alvin Taylor is officer in charge of the buses leaving Heidelberg can carry a capacity Load of 16 passengers and pounds of in com the authorized capacity is 36 passengers and pounds of priority for travel space is granted in this order couriers of and Allied travel of military and a civil Ian personnel Between France and Ger travel of military and a civil Ian personnel within France or of military and a civilian personnel dependents to travel of military and a civilian personnel Between France and travel of military arid a civilian personnel within France or Ger reservations for travel space on the buses should be obtained by phone 24 hours in Advance of the expected Date of besides providing passenger meps also carries Lestha Carload lots of express freight Between Points in Germany and the service saves both time and persons travelling Between Hei Delberg and Verdun by train spent nine hours in route and had to change trains the bus service approximately eight hours in route with no changes and runs daily except the scheduled runs Between the com z cities of la Orleans and Verdun Are made three times in either direction with an overnight Stop at during the first Days of the new meps service in com the 500th Pas Senger to utilize service was welcomed a ceremonies in an operations report covering the period from when the service was through showed these figures on passengers and freight hauled within com male civilian male 30 civilian female Pas 16 military female 37 total approximately 146 maj Charles chief of the High Way Branch of us Reurs transportation who is charged with the staff responsibilities of Usa eur Highway a broke Down the Heidelberg Over Dun figures for the same period As Fok lows Heidelberg Tov e r d u n passengers 518 verdant Heidelberg 157 tons verdant Heidelberg 50 the buses Are manned by a team two Drivers who take turns at the whee every two or three tent inuit rest stops Are provided along the for the Comfort of transportation officials at Orleans and Rochelle make either Mercial or for overnight any requesting they ate provide Box lunches for the Long tween the com z cities where dining Acif cities Are not fast freight and passenger bases now connect Usa eur he in Heidelberg with Points in com z from Verdun to la and stops include shape Tours and passengers Are carried daily except sunday Between american bases in com saving personnel Xii personnel using the buses must make reservations 24 hours in space is allotted on a the stars and stripes feature Section meps Drivers and a passenger agent Check Over of personnel authorized to ride one of the Davif