The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-16
BICrCLE CLUBs o HONE DEFENtE
Plan 70 Organize the British wheeImen Gen.
orally Into a Militia Army.

During the past two or three years the posi-
bilities Of the bicy Gle in military operations
have been discussed earnestly in this country
and elsewhere. and experiments have been con-
Quoted which indicated that the wheels useful
ness in the field was a matter Of no small inn
portance. Indeed. as between the bicycle and
the horse. preference was some time ago given
by competent authorities to The former, In
England. however. at the present time serious
thought is being given TO the need of ~increas-
ing the defensive strength Of that nation. and
the sentiment In favor Of the wheel as an en-
CINE OF war is probably stronger there than in
any other country. According to tho London
Telegraph. a report to the Commander in Chief
of the British Army. soon to be submitted by
Sir Frederick Maurice. concerning the expert
ments in Sussex. will constitute the strongest
sort OF argument in favor Of bicycles for the
all-round use OF officers and soldiers.
For some time cycles have been in common
Use in the regular army and in the volunteer
corps Of England and wheelmcn among the
latter have been formed into small battalions,
ready, should occasion demand. IN assume the
role Of mounted infantry. Rv the last volunteer
returns the number of cyclists enrolled in in
fantry baltalions was a,i73, while only N6 men
On horseback comprised the mounted infantry,
In the last few months, however, the percent
age Of wheelmen has increased greatly.
Particular attention is being directed to the
importance Of military CIV cling in home warfare,
and it Is said that the n-Chief OF
the British forces, as well az several other mill
tary officers Of distinction. have come to recog-
nize the wheels value in this branch of the
service. Gen Maurice has mapped out n course
OF defence which he is satisfied would be per-
fectly feasible and Of extreme value in the
a.apt If mn attatnptad attack IN any of tho in
terror cities Of his country. He would require
all civilian male cyclists who own wheols and
can ride them. who are Of proper age and give
promise II becoming marksmen TO take
their PLACES among the regular forces for ma
tional defence. and. upon order, to scorch away
with arms and ammunition and rations SUM-
cient for one or two days.
For the great number Of wheelmen necc.strv
10 carry out his plan the General would look
chiefly TO bicycle clubs rather than to individual
riders. The practicability Of converting cycle
organizations into infantry corps would not be
an experiment, inasmuch as the scheme has
already been tried in Sir Frederiok's own
neighborhood and the result has been most
satisfactory. Intelligence. united action and
accurate craftsmanship appear to be the requi-
sites which. in the Generals opinion. the cycle
corps should possess IN )st thoroughly. and the
necessity OF their concerted movement is re-
garded as deserving special consideration.
Recent operations with corps OF bicycleinfan-
try nave shown how 10 overcome some Of the
din culties TO be encountered in moving one or
more columns OF wheelmen over roads running
in similar directions. in order that the entire
force may relch the desired place simulta-
neously. In short, Gen. Maurice's observations
AMI experiments are looked upon as OF the
highest importance in solving the Question OF