Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-11-12
THE WHEEL IN WAR.
Bicycle. Are Favored By Mnissry Author
iflon.

Bicycles Are Favored By Military Author
A secure foothold has been obtained
by the bicycle in the army and In the
national guard. Officers, who by long
service under old conditions are likely
to be conservative to a degree, admit
that before long the wheel win be a
valuable cid to military movements In
time OF war.
Some years ago Gen. Miles, who IL
an enthusiastic advocate Of the wheel,
raid:
"Tha results obtained under the most
adverse and discouraging conditions
prove conclusively that the bicycle will
I'm the future become a most valuable
auxiliary in military operations, not
only for courier service, but also for
rapidly moving organized bodies Of men
over the country"
Gen. Miles said in a subsequentspeyrh
20 wheeluen that the use of the BIZ
cycle for military purposes Is one that
would attract naturally the attention of
every soldier.
1--WE oil know" said Gen. Miles, that
in military matters one of the principal
arts in war is rapidity of movements
and the power TO move troops and mu.
nitions of war rapidly from one part Of
the country to another. Hannibal, the
master Of the military art, was finally
overcome by the rapidity Of movement
OF one Of the corps Of the enemy against
a portion Of his army. Alexander,
Hannibal and Cicero used horses and
Napoleon coaches in moving rapidly
portions Of their corps from M part Of
the country to another.
"Now, the question is whether the
American forces mounted on wheels
can do as much as II mounted on horses.
IL Is true that a man mounted on q
wheel can move over the ordinary roads
with greater rapidity and make greater
distances than he could possibly move
or foot or mounted upon a horse. Il
is true that II you wish to send a dis
patch and station racehorses a short
distance apart they might possibly
make better time than the wheelmen
could over the same road, but IL is n
question, with the improvements that
You are making, whether wheelmcn
cannot in time pass even the race
horse.
at is estimated that there arc in this
country over 100000 men who are ac-
customed to ride the bicycle. II out OF
that number $4,000 men were organized
IL would make one of the most effective
army corps that was ever marshaled in
any country at any time"
Not long ago Lieut.. Hunt, of Sheri-
dan. and a few enlisted men, with bu.
little experience in riding, made a
march OF IS miles on wheels in one
hour and 25 minutes. The men took
one long rest and carried the full equip
ments of a soldier. At the end Of the
ride they were fresh enough to make
the journey back a pleasure. The
ordinary time Of such a march for sol
diers burdened with their rifles and be-
longings would be about five hours.
Some national guard officers OF rank
do not take as hopeful a view of the
service of bicycles in time OF var as
does the ranking officers of the army.
They point out that there are head
winds, bad roads and punctured tires
TO contend with, and that no ammuni.
tion or commissariat train could keep
pace with a corps of wheelmen. The
%guardsmen say: Cycle infantry in large
bodies would fail TO accomplish much,
but In small independent detachments
could accomplish a great deal.
IF each regiment were allowed 20 or
ganize one Of the additional companies
provided for In the new drill regulations
from the many bicycle clubs in the
vicinity, the guard would be much ben.
Gifted. Such a company should drill
az provided for in the present United
States Infantry Drill Regulations, but
in single rank when mounted, and
should consider the bicycle simply as
a means Of locomotion. In addition,
each IA should be a good signal man
and have some knowledge of teleg-
raphy. His powers of observation
should be trained 10 the highest degree,
and his ability to draw reconnaissance
maps accurately developed. Such a
company should be taught great indie.
pendence Of action, and during the
summer months compelled to furnish
maps and information showing the
smallest details of the surrounding
oountry."-Chicago Tribune.