The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-06-05

mas Deen IN the East TOR the last month WIS.,
ting the leading bicycle factories for the
purpose of looking into the construction of
4 wheel for military purposes. His object
has been to secure the best of materials and
| to minimize weight in a machine without
losing strength and stability. When he
| submits his report after the proposed trip
has been made he will doubt have some
interesting things to say about tires, rims,
and other parts of the bicycle that are pecu-
liarly susceptible to breakage and accident,
and his report will have much to do with
the enlarged use OF the bicycle in the army.
For although almost all of the European
armies have adopted the bicycle a regu-
lar arm of the service, our officials have al
country were different and that roads
were unfit for wheels. And this statement,
although not really true, has had the effect
of delaying the adoption of the bicycle until
this late day.
EUROPEAN ARMIES.
Italy introduced bicycle messengers into
her army as long ago as 1870. France has
a bicycle corpse attached to each of its regi-
ments. England, especially in the volunteer
forces, has large bodies of military bicyclists.
In Germany the bicycle, although now in
use in the army, has been opposed by the
Emperor, who is afraid that it will make in
roads on his favorte arm of the service, the
cavalry. There is not much danger of this,
for the bicycle as a military arm has Pecu-
liar usefulness which cannot be supplied by
either cavalry or infantry. 1t is superior to
cavalry for carrying messages in that it is
swift, noiscless, and at short distance, in
visible.
And SO General Miles, who is an enthusi-
astc wheelman, has determined to settle the
question for once and all by subjccting the
bicycle to test over our widest and rough
est Western roaGs. If it is SUCCESS there,
there can be no question about its use in the
more civilized parts of our country. Cen
eral Miles and almost all of the other army
officers here feel confident that Lieutenant
Moss's trip will be success.
Lieutenant Moss is "a years old. He is q
native of Louisiana and a member of the
class of 1894, United States Military Acad-
envy. He is likely to outstrip many of his
classmates in practical military life.
We have been permitted to make the
following extract from, letter lately re-
ceived from Lieut.. Moss. We rejoice in
the fact that Lieut.. Moss is Lafayette boy
and we will watch his career with much
Interest,":
II more amid the snow-capped
peaks of the historic n ock,es.' Indeed. one
can but feel the lnvigorating influences of this
grand. GLORIOUS country where Nature asserts
herself in all her grandeur and beauty.
Since my return have been exceedingly
busy studying up the subject of rations,
porting maps and making preparations
generally for our proposed trip to st. Louis
ana return. livery one around mere is
deeply interested in the matter and forty
soldiers have already volunteered to make
the trip with me. will organize the corps
to- morrow, and begin training at once. My
bicycles will not be here for 4 week yet, but
in the meantime 1 will deliver lectures &c
the corps on the nomenclature of the bicy-
Gle, the functions of the various parts, their
care, etc, and go ont into the mountains
two three times day for exercise.
The opinion around the War Department
70 he. e of
cycling in our army will depend in grea,
| measure on the results of the trip. 1 have
made careful study of the geography ot
the country between here and ST. Louis,
and aware that the trip will be long,
| tedious, rough and trying and that we will
have to undergo many hardshps. This
I fully realize and if l don't reach St.
Louis bicycle at the head of my com
n,nd, it will be because l will have been
taken back to Fort Missoula a strctcher.
JAMES n. Moss,
Lieut.. 25th Regiment U. S. y.