The herald., 1897-02-21

ping several companies of the army with
the machine No definite decision in the
matter is likely to be announced for
several weeks. for the most careful
study is being made OF the cycle and the
ideas set forth by the inventor regarding
what it can accomplish. 1t is hinted,
however, that all things point to the
decision being OF a favorable nature,
and the adoption of the machine as
regular feature of the French army may
therefore be considered more than prob
able.
There have been many experiments
with the bicycle in the armies of Europe,
and the military authorities of no nation
have taken more interest in the machine
and its development than those of
France While it is only within the past
year that any fixed effort has been made
Ill the United States army to test the
value of the bicycle as a method for
conveying a soldier from place to place,
both in company form and as dispatch
bearer, our French compatriots have
been experimenting with the wheel
from a military standpoint, for more
than five years. 1t is not surprising,
then, that this somewhat startling ad-
dition to the merits Of The wheel that
genius has made should be the emana-
tion of a French mind.
Now as to tho motor cycle itself. 1t is,
as the accompanying illustration shows,
in form and principle like unto the motor
cycle with which we are all more or less
familiar. There are, however, one or two
important exceptions, the most notable
OF these, so far as the operation OF the
machine is concerned being that the
rider steers the cycle with his feet, the
handle bar, or rather the substitute for
ii, being adapted 10 totally different
purpose. Tic motor. the impeiling force
Of the cycle, rs located just forward Of
the rear wheel, and is Of sufficient size
10 insure satisfactory rate Of speed.
Tn small tank which carries the fuel
which supplies the motor, contains an
ample quantity 10 guarantee at least
a days journey without replenishing.
The inventor claims that the machine
vii! easily Nar", over fairly rough
country, from IL to 10 miles an hour, and
believes that with good roads, unim-
peded, it would do even better than this
Perhaps the most notable feature Of
the cycle is the rcW of p&yJntts attached
to transverse bar WEiCn is supported. by
heavy steel red that runs forward from
the frame of the machine. As the illus
tration shows. the bayonets extend for
ward sufficiently to clear the machine
entirely, and TO be without an impedi-
ment to penetrate whatever the rider
may charge at In place Of the handle
bars is curved gun rest which may be
moved upward to suit the desire Of the
rider Every rider is supposed to be
armed with repeating rifle ard it viii
be understood that from the fact that ne
can steer the machine with his feet he IS
left entirely free to use the weauon-as
unincumbered as be would be if he were
standi1 on the ground, like the ordinary
infantryman Of to-day.
Such combination as this, the French
officers argue, would be almost irresist-
ible. A charge by a company mounted
on these cycles would practically be one
of those most d~eaded events in a bat
tel, bayonet conflict, and a heavy fire
from riffemen combined. Every wheel
man knows how expert the rider of a
motor cycle can become in maintaining
the equilibrium of his machine against
both ordinary and extraordinary shock
1t would take more than mere contact
with a movable body to upset a rider of
a motor cycle.
IT has been favorite argument of the