The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-03
MOTORCYCLES TO MEET
TEST IN OLD MEXICO
BriEadicr General Scriven Declares
They Arc Valuable I'm
Army as AirshipS.
rENNEssEAss ORGANIZE CORPS
1t VIII Have Total Strength of 100, and
De Ready 10 Go to Front-MOtor-
cycles First Used In Balkan War.

With war motorcycles" already in
use ~ MeAicans. and Uncle Sam WIDE
awake 20 their utility. actual warfare
below the Rio Grande would bring
about q real test CT the "two-wheeler"
in the field.
Brigader- General George L. Scriven,
OF Washington. D. c., declares that
the motorcycle Is rs valuable in tho
army as an airship. and much more
practicable: cheaper and faster than
q horse; excellent for delivery OF tele
graph messages, and could be u;ed to
advantage in general field work.
For some time test of motorcycles
for Use in connection with field ar.
tillery has been conducted at Fort
Riley, Kansas a number of motor
cycles are also used by the second di-
v'son ~ the reorganized army while
stationed ut Galveston and Texas CITY.
TEX. After several tests In which every
available means of communication be-
tween tho different regiments was
used, the second division decided upon
the motorcycle as the most efficient
one Of the tests made In this con-
nection was the delivering OF an order
from the division headquarters to the
various brigade commanders. The
distance was about five miles. Wire
less instruments were provided and the
message was sent in this way; another
message was sent by telephone over
ground wires which had been laid; ar
orderly mounted on n horse carried an
order: the message was relayed by wig
wagginE it to the brigade commanders
But none of these messages reached
the destination as quickly as the one
carried by an orderly mounted on n
motorcycle.
organizing in Tennessee.
A motorcycle corps is being organ
lied In Nashville. Tenn, by Lieutenant
a. ]. Bright, who saw service in tho
Philippines. Lieutenant Bright says
that the total strength of the corps will
be about leo, and that they will be
prepared TO go to the border il ordered
To do so.
Many and varied tests have beer
made both in this country and in Eu.
rope, rs to the speed. economy, rcla
bility and pEacticability Of the two
wheeler for army use. and as Il result
CT Ties. tests. motorcycle squadron:
have been added to many OF the army
posts. But up 10 this time the use OF
the two wheeler III actual battle has
been Very limited.
General Francisco Villa, the MeXi
can rebel leader. has adopted motor
cycles for the use OF his army mos.
scngers. Villa realizes that quick mes
senger service often decides battle
and lie says that with the four mo
iorcycles now ir use. he Is able I,
keep In closer touch with the variou.
divisions; of his army Then. too. ht
h1ds that the motorcycle is not sc
easily brought down on the battle nclt
rs is Il horse.
y band of motorcycle dispatch rid
erS has proven OF material service Il
tie Ulster volunteers. TO this squad
ron belongs one woman rider--Mss y
KinSsborough-who was the first wo
man 10 volunteer her services to thu
Ulster cause.
Al the time OF the Balkan trouble
In 1912 two large moving picture con
Germs supplied their representative
with motorcycles. by the aid OF which
they were able to get Il very com
plcte picture OF the activities. TIL
cameras were mounted on tho from
of the machines and az the tide of bat
tie shifted. the operators We're enable,
to change Jheir positions quickly. an,
thus get the best possible view.
Carry N-Hny Outht.
About this time also. was the motor
cycle first used for transporting a,
N-ray outfit on the battle Ieid. .
dynamo, coils and all other apparatu
Necessary for operating an %-ray cal
be easily carried on the two-whee lei
belt can be attached on the motor
cycle motor and dynamo and clectri