Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-11-13

Army Men Busy with Experiments ~
to the Quick Going Sfeeds-Will They
Create q Revolution i'm Military Tao.

ARMY Meu Busy with Experiments ~
10 the Quick Going Sfeeds-Win They
Create q Revolution i'm Military Tao.
ties.
The French army maneuvers recently closed,
and the Austrian field practices says the Pail
Man Gazette, were remarkable Tor the use of
the bicycle as an adjunct OF war; Adverse
criticism has SO freely been bestowed upon sug-
gestions OF this character in the past that 1t is
probably astonishing information that the ex-
perments were entirely successful. With the
Austrian army trained corps from the regular
troops was engaged in the special service. The
French army was accompanied by u band OF
civilians, bicycists of experience. The reading
public have been enlightened as to the work
upon which the Austrians were occupied-work
tnat was most satisfactorily performed even Oh
rough ground. The unreasonable suspicious of
The french, who scent Germany in all Inquiries
as TO thei- forces, will probably efiectually
debar any Information oeiug Forthcoming as TO
the part played by their corps veIocipedque
Ii may be gathered that their and was not un-
awaiting from the honors paid to the wheelInen
and the compliments they received from
Official quarters. Two of the great continental
powers powers nave tnus practically shown THAT they
recognize in the cycle an invention capable
oil AIDING TO the methods of modern warfare,
and with cycling making great progress in Ger
many, IL may safely be affirmed that the time
is near ut hand when the e machines will be
on military trial in the Fatheriaud.
Inc d'incutles-real or a,sumed-that were
NJ one Time held to be fatal to all proposals to
utilize the cycle have in great measure now
disappeared. There was substantial iOunda-
tlon-in theory at least-in the argument that
fallen tree or load of stones would disor-
San1ze In "A momentthe finest cycling corps that
could be got together. Much Oh that argument
mas since proved iailaciOus and were the Dicy
Gle stlii the only apparently suitable subject Tor
experimenting, IL would yet be worth while to
submit IL TO the test. Its use In the Austrian
and French maueuvers and Stevens adven-
lurous journey round the world has shown how
hlrHelously the obstacles urged by theorists
10 t.r.,r n, in, to
vindicatIon. The field OF choice to-day, how
ever, is not a limited one. The bicycle remains,
out Its old-time eXclusvenesS is gone. 1t is
DOT even In Itself confined to a single variety.
lhere Is the ordinary pattern OF surpass ing
iightness and wonderful speed. a tremendous
advance upon its serviceabie but clumsy pre-
dece>sor; and now we have the satellites, or small
wheeled specimens, sturdy little steeds capable
OF any amount OF work in almost any ser
vice. Then there Is the marvellous de- ell
opment OF the tricycle., which, more than
anything, has brought the application of
The cycie TO military employment within
the scope OF practical! politics. and this class OF
machine Is also divided and subdivided into
many distinguishing orders, of which the main
divisions are singles and doubles. Thus q
Plethora of material is open To experiment.
/ he good roads That TO a great degree are to De
found III the United Kingdom, and the passable
ones for the most part appertaining to Euro
pean countries, render tine cycle particularly
capable of service in home defense and CONT
mental aggression, for it upon good roads that
the cycle Is best able 10 demonstrate its Ca pa
biliteS. Yet il must not Ue assumed that the
IN this direction. A strongly built tricycie,
with an efficient rider can be used in almost
any place where horse could he comfortably
employed. These machines can be made port
able To a degree, are ready at a moments
notice, could be quilted or grouped in an
instant, or formed into intricate bar
is dismOunted require no aiteDnon
TO prevent their running away. All things
would seem TO point to the tricycie as the most
suitable form OF cycle to become AN appendage
To war, and the particular variety calculated 10
be oi most service is Undoubtedly the tandem.
Strongly made, the tandem lrlcyle is capable Oh
application TO any purpose. With two good
elders IL Is faster tnaE IA bicycle, and no regl-
men. of cavalry could live long al the pace that
can be called upon ii when required. The tam
dem also possesses great iugS age-carrying
paciIy, readily admitting OF It's riders being
perfectly equipped and fully armed. "A corps of
tandem riders, unencumUered by .asgage,
would Indeed be dying column. The tandem,
therefore, should tie the machine to commend
Itself 10 military eXperlmenIalistS.
the delicate polut 10 be solved is, granted
that the cycle De adopted new military
equipage, To what purposes could it anL It's
This Is matter that calls ior consIue.s-
ton, and here 1t Is the layman treaus upon
dangerous ground. the proposition APP
pears to have been solved hl one direction
oy the Very apparent suitability OF q
cycling corps for the Intelligence service.
Few nave been sufficiently venluresome
To insinuate their being engaged ior
actual cumulative purposes, yet fer home and
coniinentiai service cycles are well adapted
iOi shC i~ipiU vi troop anu, therefore,
would seem TO iuiflil most, il not ali, the re-
quIrements of mounted infantry. One thing
al least Is considered cerlain by those who I
favor The proposal, and that is, lei the cycle be
officially adopted, ami its many advan- |
tases VIII SO thoroughly present Them
serves that plenty Oh scope VIII be found |
Tor its utility. TIE teesr pin. electric light the
railway ana balloons nave been subjugaled To
military Service. Eacu appeared al Ilrst ant
teo Tor rough and tumble held work, and each |
met with opposition, but now what sensible
man would think vi advocating their abandon
Lnent! As u matter oil taci, Tie official eye has
been 1urtlVeiy looking with favor on the ma
!igned cycle, iOr II nss just come to light that
large number OF Railway cycles were ordered
Tor the projected SuakIn-Befuer railway and
having thus tacltiy admitted that Tue pedal
PROPULSION may Ue of use Tor the pose oi war
iare, II should not be long before We follow The
example vi Austria and France and ,esu I,r onr-
selves whether the cycie Is not a desirable
war stee0.