Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-26
TAKEN BY TwENTY-THREE UNITED
STATES INFANTRYMEN.
THEY TRAVELLED 1000 MILES.
MADE GOOD TINE, DESPITE DIS
AGREEABLE WEATHER.
Lieutenant Moss, Who Commanded,
Says the Trip Demonstrated That
the Wheel Must Have
Place in Modern
Warfare.

St. Louis Mo-, July 25.-The Twenty-fiftl
United States infantry bicycle corps. whicl
reached this city last night, completing
their 1000 mile ride from Fort Missoula
Mont. in forty days, thirty-five of whicl
were actually spent on the road, are en-
camped at Forest park. Despite the rail-
that fell last night and this afternoon
| thousands of people visited the troopers al
| the park. During their stay here the Of
| fiCers, Lieutenant ]. A. Moss and Surgeon
J. NJ. Kennedy. will be entertained by
prominent citizens. while the troopers, who
are colored men. are the guests of local
| bicycle clubs and later will be transferred
TO Jefferson barracks.
The Twenty-fifth infantry bicycle corps
left Fort MissOua. Mont. on June Il.
twenty-three in number. Lieutenant J. A.
Moss. Surgeon J. NJ. Kennedy and Edward
II. Boos the official reporter. and twenty
soldiers selected from the four companies
stationed at Fort Missoula. During the
trip one of the men was returned to Fort
MissOula on account of not being able to
keep up.
The first twelve days of the trip were
rainy and disagreeable, but good time was
gs%s %ade ,b dvTs II during thS
mountains was crossed as well as the great
er part of Montana. There were a few
pleasant days while the corps was in Mon
tana and excellent runs were made. In
crossing the Crow INDIAN reservation heavy
rains fell and the corps was stuck in the
gumho mud much of the time.
All the way across Wyoming rain ham
pered the progress of tbs company and
many hardships arose from lack of good
water.
The southwestern corner of South Dakota
was crossed, two days being occupied in
M he ha p-aS a
OF prtckly pears. making travel on the
wheels very careful and tiresome work. A
stretch of good but hilly road was struck
after leaving Edgemont and the run from
short order.
AS soon as Nebraska was reached new
troubles confronted the corps in the shape
of sand hills and heat. From the state line
to Alliance the roads were fair. being only
sandy in patches, but after Alliance was
reached and for a distance of nearly 2O0
miles, the sand in the roads was eight and
ten inches deep. The road was given up
and the railroad was used, the men riding
as much as possible, but walking the great
er part of the time. While in this desOlate
country there was no good water TO drink
and a number of the men were taken sick.
After four days Of suffering the sand hills
were passed.
The corps passed through Grand Island
Lincoln and Table Rock in Nebraska. and
out of that state into Missouri on July II.
at Rulo. AS whole, the roads through Ne
braska are good but far from being level.
short, steep hills being continually en-
countered.
The first camp was made at Napier, st.
Joseph. Hamilton, Macon. Louisiana and
st. Peters being camping places for the
other nights. The roads across Missouri
were bad and hilly and. with the exception
of few gravel roads, were the worst on
the entire trip. When away from the rail-
road the people were inhospitabie. in one
instance water sufficient for cooking being
refused and no reliable information regard
ing the roads could be gained. The heat
for the last three days of the trip was Sc
we're and hard on the men.
The distance covered on the trip was
1900 miles. the average per day being 5225
miles. After leaving the Nebraska sand
hills the average was over sixty miles per
day.
The bicycles stood the trip remarkably
well, but few accidents of a serious nature
having occurred, those that did occur being
through carelessness. According to Lieu
tenant Moss. the trip was a success from a
military standpoint.
In an interview Lieutenant Moss said:
THE trip has proved beyond peradvent-
place in modern warfare. In every kind of
weather over all sorts OF roads, we aver
aged fifty miles day. At the end of the
journey we are all in good physical condi-
tion.
Seventeen tires and half a dozen broken
frames is the sum of our damage. The
practical result of the trip shows that an
army bicycle corps can travel twice as fast
as cavalry OF infantry, under any condi-
tions, and at one-third the cost and effort.
Il am not sure whether we will return. on
our wheels or not. but will know as soon
as orders are received from Washington"