New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-16
USE OF THE WHEEL IN WAR.


w MAKES SPEECH TO MEETING OF THE
United STATES MILITARY wHEELMEN'
SAYING HE BELIEVES THE BICYCLE
HASA FUTURE AS A MACHINE
FOR SOLDIERS
?. .or,. ono had suggested. even year ago. 'hat
there would be a convention OF military "nee'e" -
this city at which the Commander Oh ."e 49,
States Army would make speech, '"a' pe''o'
would have been put down as nj subject io' 900"
nation as TO his sanity. Yet that Is just "ha' DC
.a =, IN. broadway Central Hotel yesterday.
u was the first convention Of the uniteo states
Military Wheemen. and the meeting was c"eo "
discuss the bicycle for soldiers use IN Tune VI wal
Tho liyeliest interest has been shown III ths ques
ton for some time past. and the idea mas oe." ~,
cuied Of course but as general thing oy 'he peo-
Mo who make fun Of wheeling on general principles
Tho committee had invited all the onicers ana
soldiers of the Army OF the United states anu ''e
National Guard who are wheelmen 10 pe Pies."''
and the attendance was satisfactory Inc eo'"
ton was called to effect permanent ORGANIZATIONS
and with the idea Of uniting wheemen VINO nave
,, tnovledye 81 military drill with active associa-
,ions There will be a National association divided
into State departments so that each STATE VIII nav
an organized body Of military wheenen' WIN WIN
he familiar with local roads, ana mus DE Vi s'ea'
service TO the Government in case OF need All '"e
wheemen who were present eh'e'e" INV WV '
of the scheme with gusto.
rh. oorvortion was called to order by Captain
NcCrvs,al at II o'clock. Captain McCrystal told
in his opening address the reasons Tor cahihs 'he
convention He called attention to the importance
~ the movement which had aroused sufficient inter
est TO induce General Miles TO leave Washington lor
the purpose Of attending the convention.
Secretary Barron then read the names Of those
present as well as the letters OF regret received
The reading of the constitution and its discussion
were poisoned until later In the day.
INFORMAL TALKS.
President McCrystal then called for informal
talks and introduced Major Giddings. of the Con-
necticut National Guard. He said company OF
military wheelmen in his State formerly carried
carbines on their backs. but they were discarded at
the end of a years trial. The wheels first in use
weighed fifty-six pounds and had cushion tires,
and Springfield rifles were carried on the SIDE
frame In the spring OF 1894 new wheels were SUBJ
stituted and are in use. Springfield rifles were
done away with this spring and the men now only
carry one revolver. Rifles he said. were at as
advantage on account Of weight and trouble In
handling while dismountng. Inside the diamond
a luggage case is carried, and 1t holds twice as
much as the ordinary knapsack. 1t weighs ABOUT
two pounds The uniforms Of the men are; An
army cartridge belt, sngle-breasted coat, cavalry
trousers and leather eggings that reach to the
knees During inspection by Frederick Rem
ington, the artist. recently. the men got out OF
sight on the road in ten seconds They threw
their wheels into the bushes and concealed them-
selves so that they could not be seen by any one IN
the road.
II. ]. Barron gave some practical hints about the
dress OF the military wheelmen. The most inter-
est was centred in just what General Miles would
say and when he took the floor at p. m he mad
one of the most attentive and appreciative audi
ences he ever spoke TO- The General Is firm be-
lever in the bicycle
WHAT GENERAL MILES SAID.
His tax In full was follows
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen shall not attempt
in reference to the purpose OF this gathering as |
understand It. As far as can see 1t Is com.
have been started BY few Intelligent fRteTprlshng
m e@ & Ol hs' no great You
have perfected organization and have started, l
N Ss 5 Judge ha the In p S&as
association of military men that Will promote me
zen There be perfect soldier in this country
be devoted to the Of his country as LEVEL Wei
that he is devoted 10 our form OF Goyernment ana
honor Character and integrity OF the institutions of
the Nation; and In utilizing the appliances OF war war
such appliances as will render him most efficient
and with which he can render the best service 10
mis- country. -
We have seen the weapons and appliances OF
war greatly changed in our own time but %s are
war our army was provided with the old fint-lock
Sese and ws hsa a
before the last great war the had been
armies went into the war with the muzzle loading
gun. showing that military bodies are slow to adopt
any new device.
CHANGES IN OTHER LINES.
In appliances for civil purposes have seen
steam power take the place OF the horse in all great
lines OF ation-freght and passenger-over
this country. We have seen steam and electric
power take the place Of horses on street railways
and we have seen In our own time adopted by our
people another appliance by which man can trans
port himself readily from one part OF the country
to another.
The picyc.e has come to stay. 1t lie useful in
etrument for means of recreation; 1t gives health
and strength and will. | am sure, promote longevity
The question is how far can we use 1t for military
purposes? We have seen enough to convince many
men that will be of the most useful appliances
/ have heard it said that you cannot manoeuvre
make that statement, but there some men who
could not msnoeuvre large bodies OF men on morse
foot bicycle any other way. Bicycles can be used
by who believe in the bicycle VINO nave CONN.,
dence In IT ana Know tna IN cam 0 eace Where
horse cannot be used The horse is of service IN
some PAGES where the bicycle cannot be used You
cannot swim river on bicycle; put you can con- con-
ceal IL there for several days. nsh IT up ana roe
many uses and means to which you can apply a
bicycle where you cannot use morse ana wheIe d
think your associate a commendabe one / 90 mol
think 1t will lessen your Interest In the National
Guard any than similar private associations or
military men have lessened their interest In the
service
The Genera was loudly cheered at the conclusion
OF his speech
SOME OF THOSE PRESENT.
Among Of those present were the following:
General Thomas II. McGrath Frederic Remington.
Of New-Rochele; General Albert wingate. Ser
DAFT of,a