Hertz to MTD

As a little boy welcomes his dentist, the U.S. Army last week welcomed big, tough John Daniel Hertz, 62, sent over from his great & good friend Harry Hopkins' wing of the White House to straighten the kinks in the Army's Motor Transport Division. MTD needs 286,000 vehicles, now has only 210,000 of all types; it is also dangerously short of repair stations and spare parts. Straightening these kinks is a businessman's job.

John Hertz is a businessman and a tough one. He founded Yellow Cab Co., in 1925 sold it (and Yellow Cab Manufacturing Co.) to General Motors for more than $30,000,000, retired to the race tracks. But he never quit working, has since dabbled in movies (Paramount), aviation (T.W.A.), more transportation (New York City Omnibus and Omnibus Corp.).

Hertz's intentions, not his background, worry the Army. Two fears: 1) that he will yank MTD away from the Army, make it an independent bureau; 2) that he will work too fast, redden the face of many a poky brass hat. As aides, Hertz will use businessmen, not Army officers.

Last week he tapped 260-lb. John A. Ritchie, bus-bigwig; this week will draft other transportation big shots.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.