The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-25
TnE BICYCLEIN WAR.

In this age of steam and electricity. when
every part OF the United States is brought
into the closest communication by lines Of
railway and telegraph. and when the former
means Of transportation Of persons and the
transmission Of messages have. so far as great
distances are concerned, fallen into disuse. it
seems very remarkable that the commanding
general OF the army should be trying expert
ments 30 test the efficiency of bicycles as
vehicle which can be employed in time Of war
TO carry cOuriers over stretches of ground
that cover hundreds OF miles. General Niles
has recently sent military dispatch from
Chicago % New ork in this way. there being
relay Of bicycles and bicyclists at regular
intervals along the route, and the distance
was accomplished IN somewhat less time than
would have been required in case the relays
had been Of horses
Altogether the experiment was fairly salts
factory as test of the capacity of trained
bicyclsts Whether this means of locomO-
ton can ever play prominent part IN actual
warfare when great extent Of ground is TO
be gotten over is still open 20 debate In Eng
troduced not TO facilitate the movements OF
couriers but of scouts. The physical conditions
of that cOupisy. as well as Of Europe
at large. are very different from what
they are even in the most thickly popu-
lated portions Of the United States
There the roads are. with few exceptions.
either macadamized or kept in such good
order that rapid locomotion by means Of the
bicycle Is not obstructed IN the slightest.
The bicycle could be used 10 tue very
greatest advantage If the soil of England were
invaded and the railway and telegraph lines
were cut or blocked. And 50 in France and
Germany. Bat in the nited States the con-
dition of our public roads would at certain
seasons seriously diminish and even destroy
the effectiveness of this means of moving
couriers and soldiers rapidly from distant
points.
In the journey from Chicago to New York
the couriers bearing the dispatch which was
transmitted between those points by General
Miles. found the greater part OF their
way an unbroken line Of muddy roads
which at some places were not passabie
until the bcyclists had dismounted
and in some instances they had TO take
to tho fields 10 avoid distractions. Their
route was confined 70 States whose citizens
have long prided themselves upon their pos
session of every kind of public i'm provemeuts
and yet the experience of General Miles cour-
iers would lead one TO think that they had been
passing through a section of couute which
was little less removed from all the facilities
of civilization than the States in the far West
In our late war it can be seen at a glance
how useless the bicycle would have been as q
means of locOmotion. In the great campaigns
in the country east of Richmond and in the
tangled thickets of Spotsylyania down to
Cold Harbor the hardest fought fields in the
great contest, bicycles would have afforded
Just about as much assistance as SO many
detached cart wheels. General Miles expert
ment was in the right direction. but time will
show that the bicycle Will he Of no practical
use IN American warfare for century at
least, except for very short distances and in
sections Of country where the public roads
have been macadamized.