The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-05

The men of the Blue and Gray, who
are talking SO jubllantly of going to
war again hand in hand to whip John
Bull, would find in event Of active hos
tiliJies, that their experience Of thirty
years ago would not count for much in
this age of scientific slaughter. True,
their bravery has been tested; they
would not break and run at the first
roar of battle and they know the
meaning of military discipline. But
the scores Of new scientific engines for
dealing wholesale destruction would
puzzle sheIn-
If the war become a reality, it will
be as different from the struggle of a
generation ago, IS that war was from
the battles Of the middle ages. Science
viii make the battle of the future like
a game Of chess. with the opposing
generals sitting far away from the
scene of actual strife, and moving the
great bodies Of men under them, like
the skllful player moves chessmen.
General Won AIoltke in the Franco
Prussian struggle, was the first to play
the game Of WEI in this way and a
wonderful series of successes resulted.
It would take a. large sized book to
describe the many unique appliances
which viii be used in the next war. In
the first place there is the bicycle, and
right here it should be stated that the
bicycle within the past year or two
has been recognized the world over by
the great military generals and stra-
tegists as of supreme Importance in
time Of war. The United States mill
tary wheelnen, representing state
militia and regular army soldiers and
no "a heaY1 n
existence some time. At its first ma
tional convention. Major-General Mel
son A. Miles, head of the United States
army. said this of the bicycle:
we have seen enough to convince
many men that IL will be one Of the
most useful appliances in war I have
heard IL said that you cannot man
oeuVre large bodies of men on bicycles.
/ have heard men make that state
ment, but there are some men who
Couldn't manoeuvre large bodies of
men on horse, foot, bicycle or any
other way. Bicycles can be used by
men who believe in the bicycle; who
have confidence in it, and know that
it can be used for war purposes. 1t
can be used in some places where a
horse canot be used. The horse can
be used in some places where the
cicycle cannot he used. You cannot
d
can conceal it there for several days,
fish it UP. and ride away, which you
cannot do with a horse. There are
many uses and means to which you
can apply a bicycle where you can
not use a horse, and where a man can
not perform the same service on foot.
/ think your association to be COM
meudable one. 1 do not think it will
lessen your interest in the National
-
sociationS of military men have les
sened their interest in the service"
WILL PERMIT OF LONG MARCHES.
In many Of the states there are
bicycle regiments and companies;
there are bicycle companies in the
regular army, and bicycles will become
general in all military evolutions.
When these are in use, marches of 100
miles or more viii be made in the
light of one day. Forced ones of
double length viii easily be made in
twenty-four hours. The bicycle needs
but little oil and is always ready.
1t is also apparent to progressive
military men that with the advent of
the bicycle must come the advent of
the horseless carriage in the army
provision train.
Another important bearing Of the
compact road motor upon modern war
fare viii be the possibility of hauling
field cannon without the aid Of horses.
The field piece is the clumsiest of all
instruments Of warfare to manage dur
ing a retreat For this reason alone
cannon are so often deserted in the
field TO fall into the hands of the
enemy
When good roads make the horse
less conveyance popular, we win have
to propei our cannon at a rapid rate.
or the march, TO keep up with the
rapid pace of the bicycle cavalry and
Infantry and the provisions wagons
propelled by the storage battery, nap
tina gasoline. petroleum and other
motors
MovABLE FORTS, TOO.
1t looks as if the army mule was
doomed to pass away Ike the car
horse Not only will the army wagon
and the gun carriages be propelled by
their own force, but great movable
fortresses VIII be brought into use.
These will be armored Ike the new
warehips and Ienanted by a scor6 or
two Of slls1p-shooaers and rapid-fring
guns They will readily be moved