Evening star., 1915-02-21

mas COHc lfltO IT'S U" IL it ifhSe'
due to the great European
war.
Dispatch riders m o Il n t e
upon1914 model speeders, have entirely
replaced the festive equine, and BaUl
Revere in these days of speed and eff
cheney would have to invest in two
wheeler
The motor cyclists in the armies Of
the allies and the Teutons are largely
used in carrying orders and dispatches
from headquarters to the various di-
visions. A few of the more expert and
experienced riders are used as scouts.
The riders in letters to their friends
and relatives tell of awe-inspiring ex-
periences at the front with bursting
shells and all kinds of excitement.
Some of these, published In the Motor
Cycle Review, make Interesting read
ing:
An English dispatch bearer relates
some narrow escapes from shells.
Once, while out, his machine got en-
tangled in a broken telephone wire
which lay across the road. and while
he and two companions were helping
to free the back wheel a shell eXplod-
ed sutficiently, near to smother them
with dirt as they threw themselves on
the ground.
They left hurriedly. and later an
other wire trouble caused the rider
to dismount, and. as shells were drop
ping around, he thought it wise to
leave his machine temporarily. An
open road which he occasionally trav-
ersed, it was noticed, was shelled by
the enemy when transports passed
along. and eventually it was discovered
that spy used to put the hands of
a clock in chateau in the vicinity
pointing to II as a signal for them
to fire. I'VE used to come along that
road like blazes," he added.
Comfortable as Possible.
A young Somerset solicitor. now do
ing dispatch work, seems to find most
things to his liking, for he writes: I'VE
are as comfortable as it is possible to
be in two dark rooms. We have
rigged up a couple of excellent lights
with two lamp generators and burners.
have them on most of the time, and
we have an excellent wood fire. We are
getting expert wood cutters.
Il had an eighty-mile ride day or
back and enjoyed it immensely. 1t was
a beautiful frosty day, and the roads
were top hole We are going to be
supplied with leather wool-lined waist
coats for the winter. Ihey are ripping
things, and some of the dispatch riders
already have them.
Il had glorious ride Of about
fourteen miles last night on magnificent
roads. This morning 1 discovered that
my front guard was a mass of snow
and ice, and / had to take the wheel
out and chip it off with a hammer and
chisel"
Just imagine yourself riding along
a dried-up river bed with shells burst
ing all around, and you'll realize dis
patch work is bit exciting" writes
South Shields recruit. MY part Of the
business" he proceeds. 'is taking dis
patches from headquarters to the bri-
gades behind the trenches. Night time
is the worst part about it. You are not
allowed a light, and what with German
snipers and our own sentries-some
of them would fire at their own shad-
ows--it is more than unpleasant. The
roads were in a terrible condition. You
had to run on your bottom gear all the
way.
Now that the wintry weather has
set in, the roads are like flint, and all
churned up with the wagons and mo-
tor transport. Everybody marvels here
how the motor cyclists get about. Well.
l have been in France one month to-
day-plenty long enough to know what
a 'canny' place England is l hope to
get through this and see you again
with a bit of luck"