The Washington herald., 1914-05-03
POWER CYCLES
engage ARMIES
Mexico May Be Scene Of Real
Test of Machines as Army
Equipment.
EXPERIMENTS ARE MADE
Eiuerta's Men Already Use Them and
United States Troops Are
Trying Them.
EXPERIMENTS ARE MADE

With war motorcycles" already in use
by Mexicans, and Uncle Sam wide awake
to their utility, actual warfare below the
Rio Grande would bring about a real test
of the 'two-wheeler'' in the field.
Brig. Gen. George p. Scriven declares
that the motorcycle is as valuable In the
army as an airship. and much more prac-
ticable; cheaper and faster than a horse
excellent for delivery of telegraph mes
sages. and could be used to advantage in
general field work.
For some time test of motorcycles for
use in connection with field artillery has
been conducted at Fort Riley, Kans. A
number of motorcycles are also used by
| the second division OF the reorganized
army while stationed at Galveston and
Texas City. Tex. After several tests in
which every available means of communi-
cation between the different regiments
was used. the second division decided
upon the motorcycle as the most efficient.
One OF the tests made In this connection
was the delivering of an order from the
division headquarters to the various
brigade commanders. The distance was
about five miles. Wireless instruments
were provided and the message was sent
in this way: another message was sent
by telephone over ground wires which
had been laid; an orderly mounted on a
horse carried an order; the message was
reIayed by wigwagging It to the brigade
commanders. But none of these messages
reached the destination as quickly as the
one carried by an orderly mounted on a
motorcycle.
OrRaniEinE in Tennessee.
A motorcycle corps is being organized
in Nashville. Tenn, by Lieut. A. ].
Bright, who saw service in the Philip
pines. Lieut. Bright says that the total
strength of the corps will be about 100.
and that they will be prepared to go to
the border IL ordered TO do so.
Many and varied tests have been made
both in this country and in Europe as
to the speed, economy, reliability. and
practicability OF the two-wheeler for
army use. and as a result OF these tests
motorcycle squadrons have been added to
many OF the army posts. But up to this
time the use of the two-wheeler in &C
tual battle has been very limited.
Gen Francisco Villa. the Mexican rebel
leader. has adopted motorcycles for the
use OF his army messengers. Villa real
iZes that quick messenger service often
decides a battle, and he says that with
the four motorcycles now in use, he Is
able 10 keep in closer touch with the
various divisions of his army. Then.
too, he finds that the motorcycle is not
so easily brought down on the battle field
as is a horse.
A band Of motorcycle dispatch riders
has proven of material service to the
Ulster volunteers To this squadron be-
longs one woman rider-Miss P. Kings
borough-who was the first woman to
volunteer her services to the Ulster
cause.
At the time OF the Balkan trouble in
1872 two large moving picture concerns
supplied their representatives with mo-
torcycles. by the aid OF which they were
able to get n very complete picture of
the activities. The cameras were mount
ed on the front OF the machines and as
the tide Of battle shifted, the operators
were enabled to change their positions
quickly, and thus get the best possible
view.
Garry N-Ray Outnt.
About this time also, was the motor
cycle first used for transporting an
X-ray outfit on the battle field.
dynamo, coils and all other apparatus
necessary for operating an X-rsy can
be easily carried on the two-wheeler. A
belt can be attached on the motorcycle
motor and dynamo and electric current
produced. This power will produce the
X-ray which may he used by physicians
for examining persons injured on the bat |
tie field.
with these exceptions there has been
no opportunity TO prove the real worth |
of the singIe-tracker I'm actual warfare. |
But OF the troops that are awaiting de-
in Mexico practically all are |
supplied with a motorcycle squadron.
A test of the value of the two-wheelcr |
on military hikes has also been made
by the Ohio National Guard. A number |
- ska tarI 1oAa
cycle trip from Columbus to Camp Perry. |
Each rider carried tentage and COM
plete equipment on his machine.
Recently a detachment of motorcyclists
has been added to the Second Presidency /
Volunteer Rife Battalion, with headqusr-
ters at Calcutta. India. Thirty-five men
on motorcycles are in this de-
tachment. A motorcycle squad is now
also a part Of the regular British army.
But In neither of these countries has
The two-wheeler been put to actual field
service.