The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-25
THE WHEEL IN THE ARMY.
Result OF the Recent Experiment Of
Gen. Miles.

Nelson A. Miles, comman ding the depart
ment of. the Missouri, to Gen. o. o
Howard, commanding the department of
the East. The message was sent from
Chicago to New York by bicycle, the
riders being changed every few miles, in
order to get the highest rate of speed.
The conditions under which the trial
was made were such as to try both man
and machine to the utmost, for the entire
section of country through which the
cyclists passed was almost under water
rom the tremendous rainfall that had
caused the water courses to overflow their
banks, and rendered the country roads
practically impossible to the usual
vehicles. Gen. Miles writes on this point:
1.-THE roads are saturated to such de-
gree as to render transportation over them
most difficult, and in such condition that
military maneuverS would be considered
almost impracticable."
The reports of the riders show that the
bad condition of the roads did not cause
the failure of the trial. Although the pro-
posed route was reported almost impass-
able for wagons in many places, the wheel
men made their respective distances-tray-
cling day and night-sometimes pushing,
sometimes wading. losing their way in the
unfrequented by-paths that submerged
roads forced them to take, and striving to
make up for the time so lost. The dis
lance of 975 miles was made in four days
twelve hours fifty-tive minutes and twelve
seconds.
This record is an eloquent testimonial to
the strength and hardwood of the young
athletes who had the demonstration in the
United States of fact long well known in
Europe. There the military use of the
bicycle is fixed, tactics have been written
for Its manipulation and the whole Ques-
ton has passed from the experimental to
the practical stage. Here it is more diff
cult to bring it to the attention of the
authorities, for the claim has always been
made against the bicycle that mud skilled"
it. While mud is a serious obstacle, it is
now certain that it does net kill the
bicycle; but this and similar sweeping OBJ
jections have always proved stumbling
serious consideration for the military posi-
bilities Of the machine in this country.
Now, the success of this trial will gain
hearing for the advocates of the wheel,
and it is to be hoped that a systematic
series of trials will be held by the military
authorities to determine the causes, if any,
that render the bicycle less useful in the
settled parts OF the United States than in
Europe.
1t must be remembered that cycle corps
are part OF the recognized military arma-
ment of foreign powers, and that the same
powers, were they to invade our territory,
would bring their bicycle corps, for the
country show conclusively that the facili-
ties for riding here are good; and, con-
verseiy. were this country to invade the
soil of a foreign power, there would be
urgent need Of bicycle corps to oppose
those of the power invaded. It is futile to
say that We will never be engaged in war
with foreign power, for if this was be-
lieved by majority of the people our
standing armv would have been abolished
long ago; and while the chance remains
that We may have to rely on arms to MAIN
tain our country, every means to that
end should be tried and proved or dis
proved, not set aside with unsupported
objections.
The tactics so far written for the militia
~ cyclists are to great extent unsuited
to the wants of that arm. They sanction
the exposure of the machine as q means of
defense against cavalry and advocate in
verting the machines and rotating the
wheels rapidly, with view of frightening
the enemy's horses. The cycles should
evidently be kept out or harms way, and
the time spent in balancing them on their
handles could be more advantageously
employed in utilizing the superior range
OF the infantryman's rifle, over the cavalry
carbine, in firing at the approaching en-
envy with muzzie rests. The probability
"a oouiSS W cavalry SILL
liar bodies OF infantry armed with maya
zine guns is more than remote.
The speed and endurance of the men
who ride cycles for pleasure are on the in
crease yearly. At recent 10o-mile race
from Philadelphia to Newark the contest
ants lett at 3 :2S a. m, and at O'Clock in
the evening twenty-one had arrived, the
fastest riders making the distance in seven
hours and thirty-seven minutes. and this
with roads so heavy from the rains that in
many places the cycles had to be trun-
died.
From the facts given as to the employ
ment OF infantry mounted on cycles by
the great nations whose suitable prepara-
ton III time of peace serves to keep the
balance of power in Europe undisturbed,
1t is evident that the questions involved
are not beneath the notice Of the United
States.
Not one alone. but all the powers-Ger-
many, France, England. Austria, Italy
and the others--have taken the matter
into consideration, and handled it as a
living issue. Although the United States
does not seek war, yet it cannot so govern
the chances as to feel able to disband its
army and leave the protection of the ma
ton to the state organizations. On the
contrary, with all the talk of arbitration,
the navy is being placed on basis calcu-
lated to enable us to uphold the acts of
congress by force of arms: and until the
time arrives when all troubles will be set
tied by arbitration, the United States
should seek to keep the small force COM
prised in its military establishment as
nearly abreast OF the times as possible.
fnr