The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-06-18
HE WHEEL In MAR.
Bicycles Are Favored by Military Author
tiles.

1
titles.
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 degree. admit
bhat before long the wheel will be a
valuable aid to military movements in
| time of war
Some years ago Gen. Miles. who is
an enthusiastic advocate of the wheel,
:aid:
The results obtained under the mos
| adverse and discouraging conditions
prove conclusively that the bicycle will
i'll the future become a most valuable
| auxiliary in military operations, not
only for courier service, but also for
rapidly moving organized bodies of men
lover the country"
Gen. Miles said in subsequent speech
20 wheelmen that the use of the biz
cycle for military purposes is one thai
would attract naturally the attention OF
every soldier.
1--WE all 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
';.evercome 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 one part of
the country to another.
''Now, the question is whether the
American forces mounted on wheels
can do as much as if mounted on horses.
1t is true that a man mounted on a
wheel can move over the ordinary roads
with greater rapidity and make greater
distances than he could possibly move
on foot or mounted upon a horse. 1t
, is true that if 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 it is a
question, with the Improvements that
you are making, whether wheelmen
cannot in time pass even the race
horse.
1T is estimated that there are in this
country over 100000 men who are ac-
oustomed to ride the bicycle. If out Of
that number $4,000 men were organized
it 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 few enlisted men. with but
little experience in riding. made a
| march of Is miles on wheels in one
hour and % minutes. The men took
one long rest and carried he full equip
ments of soldier. At the end of the
ride they were fresh enough to make
the journey back a pleasure. The
ordinary time of such 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
kservice of bicycles in time of war 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-
| ton or cOmmssariat train could keep
pace with a corps of wheeImen. The
guardsmen say: Cycle infantry in large
bodies would fail to accomplish much,
but in small independent detachments
could accomplish great deal.
IF each regiment were allowed to 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
cited. Such company should drill
as provided for in the present United
States Infantry Drill Regulations but
| III single rank when mounted, ana
should consider the bicycle simply as
ii means of locomotion. In addition,
each man should be a good signal man
and have some knowledge of teleg-
raphy. His powers of observation
| should be trained to 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
country. Chicago Tribune.