Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-06-18
England Feels Free
From Invasion by
Her German, Enemy

correspondence of Associated Press.1
Headquarters Of British Home De-
Tense Armies, England, June s.-Since
the beginning Of the war. the coasts of
the United Kingdom have been guard
ed by the British bicycle militia or
"cyclist patrol" and today the cyclists
still are on guard against German in
vason. But the golden opportunity for
a German assault in force upon Brit
!sh shores has now passed. No longer
do a few cyclists stand guard alone
over important landing places. as they
did for many days after war was de-
ciared. a@G
The danger Of invasion appeared
very great to US in those days. said
the commander Of one OF the cyclists
battalions the other day. I'VE had to
pu. forth the most colossal efforts to
get our defense organization up to ade-
quate pitch.
IF the German regarded an invasion
Of England as a fearsome task then,
he must regard 1t as a hopeless i'm
possibility now. Where we formerly
had only small detachment of cyclist
troops to guard. possible landing
place. there are now thousands OF
trained soldiers living IN huts or bill
lets close 10 hand. with guns trenches,
and dugouts all along the sand dunes.
and plenty of support also from aero
planes, observation balloons, subma-
rines and coast defense vessels. In
1914 the German invader would have
been opposed largely by half-trained
troops straight. from workshops and
offices, while today he would have to
meet men the equal in physique and
fighting ability of anything the world
has ever seen"
The actual work Of protecting land
ing places has long since been taken
out of the hands of the cyclist bat
talions. who have become more purely
a coast patrol. Their duties nowadays
occasionally are varied by the capture
Of various objects of interest washed
up by the tide, such as mines. bodies,
wreckage, and lifebuoys. The mines
are destroyed by guncotton. affording
few moments Of pleasant excitement
for the patrol.
Hundreds Of sailors from ftorpedoed
ships have received their first welcome
to land from cyclist patrols along lone
" coasts. Company headquarters con-
tain dozens of accounts Of such en-
counters, always in the stiff officiai
language in which the British army
and navy always clothes Its deeds OF
heroism. Here is such report from
cyclist patrol, culled at random from
file at headquarters:
sighted small open boat drifting
towards shore This about dawn dur
ing binding snowstorm. Occupants
| too exhausted to use oars. Big sea
running. Boat reached breakers and
overturned. Patrol with assistance
from nearest huts summoned by rock
cts, succeeded saving all but three who
were too numbed from exposure to
| make any effort One OF our motor
transports arrived promptly and TOOK
survivors to farmhouse. Bodies OF
| three drowned later taken to head
quarters"
On dark nights, the patrols frequent
| w encounter small ships which have
| gone on sand bars owing to lack OF
guiding land lights. A patrol must
| take every precaution against some
| enemy ruse in such case. AS soon
as word is received that ship is ap-
| proa ching the shore, force OF re-
serves is summoned and takes up
defensive position with machine guns.
Then boarding party is sent aboard
| the vessel to examine her and make
report. Even Il there y nothing sus-
| picious about the vesael suard -
| ief. aboard to prevent anyone sa.n
| ashore or possibly communicating villa
| hostile agents on shore.
The coast patrols are on duty on
practically every mile Of British coast
night and day. A cyclist patrol y
usually on his beat for three hours,
returning to quarters for . rest period
which is followed by the days routine
OF physical training, musketry prac-
tice. bayonet practice. and maneuvers
similar to that followed in regular IN
fantry camps.
Most Of the cyclist forces hope one
day to be called across the channel.
The day for which they look is tins
time when a great mobile force VIII
be required in Belgium and Germany
to pursue refreshing and demoralized
enemy. 5a5
There are $50 manufacturers OF au-
ltomobiles located in thirty-two states