Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-04-02
ARMIES WITHOUT HORSES.
yuture Military Operations to BE Con-
Quoted without Equine Aid.


lIorseless vehicles will probably be
used in our army before very long.
Ir recent conversation with n Jour
nul writer Gen. Miles expressed him.
self as deeply interested to learn tho
result of the trial of horseless carriages
in Chicago.
Before many generations battles will
be fought by natlons-so to speak
patrolling the land, as well as the sea,
in ironclad vessels. This would appear
more reasonable than the likelihood
that flying airships will some day take
hand in the military conflicts of the
world. Yet our army officers are to-
day experimenting with flying devices
for the signal corps. True, the horse
less vehicle, as we know it, cannot be
depended upon to climb fences, run
over steep rocks OF such obstacles. Bnt
an ocean war vessel does not lose its
value because unable to leap over every
rock in the way or because it cannot
sail in shallow water. Its pilot knows
the proper channels. The pilot of the
land vessel will know all the roads.
With the advent of the horselss vehicle
will come the advent Of good roads.
Thus say the prophets.
The value of the movable fort has
been appreciated by soldiers ever since
Paul of Macedon routed his enemies
with The fatal phalanx or since Caesar
made war with his moving towers and
columns of men rooted over with a COW
ering of shields locked together. With
fortresses capable of being moved over
the country, Uncle Sam could rout his
worst enemy with but modest force.
The army wagon has always played
an important part in the protection Of
small bodies of men attacked from
ambush on the march. When there is
animal power exposed, however, that
propelling force is soon exterminated
with single bullet.
The horse is much more easily hit
than the man. War statistics, includ-
ing all the worlds battles fought be-
tween 1900 and 1865, show that for
every 100 cavalry or artillery soldiers
killed there were 100 horses. But a
travelling fort could not be destroyed
nearly so quichly as war ship, for
the reason that there is no water to
rush into the former. A hundred holes
can be shot clear through, and yet it
will go on, unless the vital machinery
! be broken.
The adoption of the horseless vehicle.
ms it is contemplated, for the simple
army train, may lead to the adoption
Of these armored land vessels some day.
At each of its Al military posts our
army employs two or more wagons.
There are two styles of army wagons
prescribed by the quartermaster gen.
eral. The larger, the siX-mule wagon,
is for transporting army supplies to
and from railroad stations on the from
tier posts. The other, known rs the
escort wagon, is pulled by two or four
mules. 1t is used in the more thicklv
settled regions for the same purpose,
RS we'll as for official errands. These
wagons have been used in the army
since the war, with but little alteru-
ton. Both will be important factors
of the army train in the event of war
with foreign power. They are slow
but sure, as are the government mules
which draw them. But the govern
ment mule will not long be in use in
these advanced days, when all the
armies of the world are striving to solve
the problem Of rapid transit.
The movement is fast on foot 10
mount our regular soldiers, as well as
nilitiamen, on bicycles. When these
are used, marches of 100 miles or more
will be made in the light of one day.
Forced ones will easily be made in "a
hours. Two hundred miles was lately
travelled by several fast riders in less
than 12 hours. In rapid march OF
this kind the government mule would
be left behind with all the provisions.
Not even cavalry horses can make such
long continuous march as can bi.
cycles. A good horse making so miles
in one day must rest week before con-
tinuing it's journey. The bicycle needs
hut little oil and is always ready. ]t
is, therefore, apparent to progressive
military men that with the advent OF
the bicycle must come the advent OF
the horseless carriage in the army pro-
vision. train.-N. Y. Journal.