The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-13
CYCL Els IN THE ARMY,
Details as TO Lieut.. Moss Ambitious
Trim.

WASHINGTON, June 12.-By far the most
important practical military experiment to be
made this summer as the result CT the change
OF policy in the war department will be the
bicycle practice march to be made by Lieut..
James A. Moss, of the Twenty-ffth United
States infantry. Gen. Miles recommended a
year ago that bicycle regiment be organized
in the army, but nothing came OF it. and, so
Tar as the war department at Washington was
concerned the matter was dropped. Lieut.
MOSS, however, encouraged by the spirit of
Gen Niles recommendation, asked and OBJ
tanned permission from his commanding Off
Ger, Col. Burt Of the TWenty-ffth United
States infantry, to make an experiment with
bicycle corps 1t was successful beyond all
expectations. Lieut.. Moss, with seven men
made a trip from Fort Missoula, Mont to and
through the Yellowstone National park and
return, travelling more than 1880 miles over
the widest and toughest roa0S in the Rocky
mountains. carrying on their wheels all food,
arms, ammunition and tents, and riding in
all kinds of Wea. her.
AS the result of observations on the trip and
careful study afterward, Lieut. Moss drew up
plans and specifications for a strictly military
bicycle, which he hoped to have adopted by
the war department. He came to Washington
IN January and submitted mis- pans for the
new wheel to the secretary Of war, together
with his report of the experiments of last
summer Gen. Miles also encouraged Lieut.
Moss, and twenty-one bicycles will be used
in the practice ride this summer from Fort
Missoula Mont, to st. Louis, No., and return
a distance over wild Western roads of more
than 3.4OO miles.
These wheels are distinctly military bicycles
They have steel rims, the front Wheels have
forty tandem spokes and are equipped with
brakes. They are siXty-s:x and one-half gear
and weigh thirty pounds. There is nothing
unusual in the construction of the wheel
proper, but in the attachments for the pur-
pose of carrying tents, cooking utensils food,
arms, ammunition and clothing Lieut. Moss
inventive capacity is brought into pay In the
diamond of each wheel is q carrying case
made OF lightweight blue sheet iron. The case
IS made OF two and sometimes three parts
When riding it is used to carry food and at
the end of the days trip it is taken from the
wheel, taken apart and used for cooking or
o,her similar purposes. The two large cyl
indrical coffee pots are also used for two pur-
poses. A blanket roll is put into each, and
the pot is strapped on the front handle bar
during the day, and at night in camp the
pots are cleaned and used for cooking pur-
poses
The question of the use of the bicycle in
our army undoubtedly will be settled this
summer. Lieut.. Moss and many other army
officers are confident of the success of the
march. 1t is as hard a test as the wheel could
be subjected to. In fact Secretary Alger's
only doubt as TO the wisdom of the experi-
ment arose from the fact that he thought
the proposed trip too long and the lest too
severe on the wheels. Lieut. Moss viii start
from Fort Missoula, Mont, about June
and expects to arrive at st. Louis by Julv
The return trip will be made in about six
weeks. ~