The Portland daily press., 1891-08-31
The Militia BIcycIIst.

For some time bicycles have been recog-
nized In the European armies as available
for maneuvres In war; and organizations of
bicyclists are now regularly incorporated in
the standing armies of nearly all the great
military nations of western Europe. Upon
the smooth and hard roads of the continent
the wheelman can out do both the foot
soldier and the cavalryman. As couriers,
skirmishers and flying divisions they are ex-
pected to play important parts in tho wars of
the future. 1t will undoubtedly be MANY
years before the United States government
Will use the bicycle In its military operations
since those operations are all conducted In
places where wheel would be more of an
incumbrance than an aid. But some of the
state governments have made the first ex-
periments this year. The first recorded ex-
pertinent Of the American militia with the
wheel was made about two months ago by
a squad OF the 18th regiment of the New
York militia. Twelve men and an tficer
simply mounted safety" wheels and rode
from their armory in New York city, a dis
lance OF 20 miles, into Westchester county.
The rifle of each trooper was fixed In two
clamps on the vertical Tod in front The
knapsack was strapped to the handles, the
combined weight Of rifle, cartridges and bag
gage being about 80 pounds. The commits
sary OF the detachment, who brought up the
rear, had his machine loaded with pots and
pans for use in camp. Reaching suitable
place the squad encamped, executed yari-
city OF field man@uvres, drill, d, practiced sig
mailing and went home. They attracted some
public attention, and proved that the wheel
was to certain extent available for their
purposes. Acting upon the suggestion thus
furnished, the Connecticut militia at the
muster just ended have made more elabor-
ate trials of the bicycle One of the regi-
mental signal corps were furnished with
safetles and drilled through the entire en-
campment A manual was compiled for the
drill by regular army lieutenant, who pat
termed 1t after the English cycling tactics.
The rifle was carried slung over the back of
each cyclist, instead Of strapped on the ma
chine. Besides the simple maneuyres of
forming In line, dismounting, etc., there was
introduced special maneuvre called the
zebra" The object Of 1t is to repel cavalry.
1t is executed In this fashion: The wheelmen
turn their machines upside down and place
them in the form of the arc of circle. Then
they fall fiat, each man behind his machine.
while the commander dismounts from His
Immediately behind them. The bicvclists
while lying upon the ground in this fashion
are supposed to be defending themselves
from cavalry attack. They fire through
the space between the two wheels and the
object In keeping the wheels whirline in
theory is to frighted the horses of the attack.
ing party by means of their scintilIations and
render them fearful Of approaching. 1t Is
very doubtful, however, that such an effect
could be secured In an actual engagement.
The zebra, however, is considered an i'm.
pOrtant man@uvre and it is seen to cores
pond In measure to that of cavalrymen
when they dismount and form breastwork
of their horses bodies. In the sham battle
1t was found that the cavalry could overtake
retreating wheelmen in short charge but
that In the delivery Of messages of tive miles
or more, the wheelmen were rather superior
to the old method of signalling with flags
from neighboring elevations. The expert
ment was so successful that the whole of the
signal corps of the entire state guard of Con-
nectlcut are to be equipped with machines.