Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-06-18
CYCLISTS CORPS
AWAITING CHANCE
To CHASE KAISER


HOME DEFENSE ARMIES, June 1S-
Since the beginning of the war the
coasts of the United Kingdom have
been guarded by the British militia or
"cyclist patrol" and today the cyclists
still are on guard against German in
vasion. But the golden opportunity
for a German assault in force upon
.Britains 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 declared.
"The danger of invasion appeared
very great to us in those days." said
the commander of the cyclists battal
ions the other day. We had to put
forth the most colossal efforts to get
our defense organization up to ade-
quate pitch.
eff the Germans regarded an invas-
ion of England as a fearsome task
then, they must regard it as hopeless
and impossible now. Where we for
merly had only small detachment OF
cyclist troops to guard a possible land
iIg place. there are now thousands OF
trained soldiers living in huts or bill
lets close to hand, with guns, trenches
ard dug-outs all along the sand dunes
ard 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 battal-
ions, who have become more purely a
coast patrol. Their duties nowadays
are varied occasionally by the capture
oil various objects of interest washed
up by the tide, such as mines, bodies,
wreckage and life buoys. The mines
are destroyed by guncotton, affording
few moments of pleasure and eX-
citement for the patrol.
Hundreds of sailors from torpedoed
ships have received their first welcome
to land from the cyclist patrols along
lonely coasts. Company headquarters
contain dozens of accounts of such en-
counters, always in the stiff official
language in which the British army
and navy always clothes its deeds OF
heroism. Here is such a report from a
cyclist patrol, culled at random from
a file at headquarters:
Sighted small open boat drifting to-
wards shore. This about dawn during
binding snowstorm. Occupants too
exhausted to use oars. Big sea run
ming. Boat reached breakers and over
turned. Patrol with assistance from
nearest huts summoned by rockets, sue
ceeded in saving all but three who
were too numbed from exposure to
make any effort. One of the motor
transports arrived promptly and took
survivors to farmhouse. Bodies OF
three drowned later taken to head
quarters"
On dark nights, the patrols fire.
quently encounter small ships which
haze gone on sand bars owing to the
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 a ship
is approaching the shore. force of
reserves is summoned and takes up a
defensive position with machine guns.
Then a boarding party is sent aboard
the vessel to examine her and make
report. Even if there is nothing sus-
picious about the vessel a guard is
left aboard to prevent any one comm g
ashore or possibly communicating with
hostile agents on shore.
The coast patrols are on duty on
practically every mile of British coas;
night and day. A cyclist patrol is US
ually on his beat for three hours, re-
turning to headquarters for rest Pc
riod, which is followed by the days
routine of physical training. musketry
practice, bayonet practice and manoeu-
vres similar to that followed in regu-
lar infantry camps.
Most Of the cyclist forces hope one
day to be called across the channel
The day for which they look is the
fima whom great mOhila force will