The sun., 1895-01-20
BICYCLES FOR WAR USES.
SOLDIERS ON WHEELS oNCE
JOKE, Bur WOW a FACT.


Ipportn-t Dates 80 ne Psrforrnes In Ti-.
or var-Corps or Military Cyciists-Ad.
v.ntsses over Cavalry nnd Infantry.
The use OF the bicycle In the army Is at
tracing more and more, the attention OF milf
tary men, and IL Ia an interesting fact In con-
nection with this matter that the suggestion ~
this use Of the wheel was made by the English
comic paper Punch as n joke. It wasn't bad
Joke, either; for at the time that 1t appeared
bicycling had not been taken up seriously. Very
few people rode wheels, and they were looked
upon as moro or less open TO criticism.
1t was early In the seventies that an artist on
Punch drcw cartoon showing troop OF Eng
lish soldiers mounted on two-w heeled machines.
Englishmen found the suggestion amusing Not
long after this cartoon, in the field man9uvres
in Italy, in 1878, tho cyclists OF soma were
called upon to carry dispatches, and military
men began to consider seriously tho availability
of the bycicle in war. Germany. England, and
France have not missed the importance of the
bicycle and to-day Punehs cartoon would not
be classed as a comic even in that paper.
Nearly every volunteer battalion in England
now has a cyclist corps Belgium has gone 40
far as to attach bicycle schools TO most OF her
garrisons, and her War Minister has ordered
various maneuvres OF her military whcelmen
TO test their utility. There are few countries
now where military bicycle could not be used
been constructed for this purpose are light In
weight and strongly built, of the style known as
the safety. They permit the rider TO carry
military rife. diminutive pouch for bicycle
tools, and . knapsack for clothing and ra-
tions. When not in use these machines
may be stacked in way that would seriously
embarrass q cavalry charge. Modern critics
generally admit that one quality which makes Q
brigade particularly to be feared is the power to
L..
quality would be possessed in high degree by
modern bicycle brigade of mounted infantry"
Their steeds are noiseless, and require no ra-
SSGlS SSS@psrStSoy fresh ' and ready to '
R S fSa''Sn no a BE- found In yyRe
man. In case the mud Is too deep 70 permit
carrying his ride and accoutrements at least,
and has only to push light machine; knowing
@ eshs hs w sua as W spS SEH
with which cyclists can unite. and, when united.
can bring every man into action. would render
them o most telling force on the advance line In
reconnoitring. Machines as well as their riders
can readily be concealed and used in ambush.
orderiies. suggested to her in 1851 by ono Of her
regular officers at a time when bicycle clubs were
that the clubs were already in sufficient training
ali they needed being a rifle siung across their
backs cartridge boxes; and well-defned duties.
III was not until 1889 t0at CyCllsJS were
employed in England, and then they made a
very successful experiment, being used as scouts
sussex Regiment WSeh has ever snes employs m eSs
ed them with advantage whenever field opera
couple of years later commander, during
some evolutions, finding himself short Of cav
airy. conceived the bold idea of using cyclists as
scouts on the fanks of his line OF march. This
was q scratch. cyclist corps. made up Of volun-
teers and civilians. some OF whom had no mill;
into what was required of them. The main
body Of cyclists moved forward into the centre
of the roads. while the fiankers on their cycles
secured the country from eight to ten miles
either side. During these same maneuvres two
mission. and rode fifty miles in. Ave hours,
though most OF the road was in bad condition.
as cavsirymen II led d." to the formation in England,
by authority. of several bodies of military cy-
s sSe f
organized wheelmen in the world. WAS created
under the direction of the War Secretary, and is
also in England well formulated scheme for
training regular soldiers as cyclists at Alder
sium Inspector Besides, volunteer batiaIions
have received permission to organize cyclist sec
to be one officer. two non-commissioned officers,
twelve TO twenty, privates and one bugler.
at the Royal va Mitaryy yC College at at sandhars. % said
in a recent paper on the military bicycle:
qualify them hem for @ employment % Tina in ali the duties
pertaining TO messehgers. orderlies or despatch
ment OF relay posts of cyclists on any long line
very rapid transmission. The speed and noise
less progress of bicycles ft them as a means Of
Communication between the fractions of an out
post force. both by night and day, and between
outposts and the main body.
THE same qualifications, and the inconspicu-
Gus character of the riders, make them eligible
as scouts or reconnoiterers In any enclosed and
cultivated country where the operations are
mainly confined to roads. Cyclists. being In
fantry can dismount and go wherever infantry
can co. and thus q small body of wheelmen has
nothing to fear from an equal body Of horse
men similarly engaged in scouting.
"Cyclists are well qualified to act as escorts
for conveys. The men would not be tempted to
mount the wagons and the convoy could move
faster than II the escort were composed of in
fantry, and the cyclists could reconnoitre widely
they would prove efficient, for all such infantry
duties can be moro quickly done by wheelmen.
The power OF carrying intrenching tools or
materials for demolitions, added to the speed
and silence, enables sudden raids to be made for
offensive purposes.
In the case OF force detached or otherwise
cyclists would in most cases be able to perform
the scouting duties for the information and pro-
lection of the force. Probably under all the
form all the duties as well as the cavalry, but
there can be. no doubt that they could recon:
noitre more widely and rapidly than unmounted
infantry"
The first test in war of the military bicycle
has yet to be made but the advocates OF the
wheel ave no fear Of its upsetting their theories
THE BURGALL AND THE EEL.