THE

UNITED SERVICE

EDITED BY L. R. HAMERSLY, Jr.

MAY, 1905.

INFANTRY CYCLISTS.*

BY STAFF COLONEL G. IMMENHAUSER.

(Condensed Translation by STAFF CAPTAIN A. FONJALLAZ.)

REVUE MILITAIRE SUISSE.

Translated for the General Staff by Capt. Cecil Stewart, 4th U. S. Cavalry, March, 1905.

The officer charged for a number of years with the instruction of military cyclists in our army has just published a most interesting and instructive pamphlet. It is the military history of our bicyclists and a résumé of the tests followed out from 1896 to 1903. We are thus enlightened as to the phases through which our organization and cyclist instruction have passed the road that remains to be traveled.

In the introduction, the author, after having inquired into the influence exercised by mounted infantry in a campaign like that of South Africa, proves that never before has any army but the English army decided to organize permanent troops of this kind, and that with reason. Independently of the question of expense, we have adhered to preserving for the infantryman on the one hand, and for the cavalry on the other, their peculiar qualities. The latter arm, in spite of its incontestible virtues in campaign, does not see its strength increased.

The reason is either expense, lack of available horses, the exigencies even of our army organization.

The logical consequence of this state of affairs impels seeking, aside from the horse, for means of transportation less costly though still rapid, and available in war. The bicycle answers these demands,

*This article is a résumé of a study by Staff Lieut.-Colonel G. Immenhauser, "Radfahrende Infanterie von Oberstleutnant G. Immenhauser," published as a supplement by the Allgemeine Schweizerischen Militärzeitung, 1904.

and organization in modern armies of combatant cyclists has in the last few years been decidedly extended. Lieutenant-Colonel Immenhauser considers that the time has come to examine the question of the organiation of infantry cyclist units in our country. It is not alone upon an extended theater of war like that of South Africa that greater mobility will have an important bearing. Our small army may have to hold back an adversary on one or several frontiers of our country. By the side of the mountain troops, the Alpines, charged with a special mission, we must have an infantry capable of following up the cavalry and of covering distances double or fourfold those that ordinary infantry succeed in covering. These troops will compensate for the numerical inferiority of our cavalry and will sensibly reduce the difficulties of conducting operations.

The author urges the appellation "Radfahrende Infanterie" which we believe best translated by "Infantry cyclists." He means thereby to point out that he wants no special troops, but a kind of infantry equivalent to ordinary infantry. These cyclist infantrymen should know how to shoot and march like the foot soldier. Moreover, they will be drilled and trained thoroughly in bicycling and technical knowledge of the bicycle. And we think the author is perfectly correct when he says, "to-day cyclists, to-morrow pedestrians, but good infantry always, there is the goal."

After this general discussion, the author gives a summary of the cyclist organizations of the bordering States.

Germany has provided experimentally and temporarily some combatant cyclist companies, but a definite organization is not yet decided upon. It is in field service that the cyclists find extended duty. They can maintain communication between several separate columns and connect the cavalry with the columns consisting of all arms in the rear. They utilize them also where the cavalry is wanting or should be spared. Finally, pioneers often perform their duty using the bicycle.

Austria-Hungary has on her eastern frontier no routes favorable for bicycling. It is also a well known fact that this country has been passing through a parliamentary crisis which for several years already prevents her from proceeding with changes in her military organization.

Italy equips twelve companies of bersagliere cyclists, a company to each regiment of bersagliere, that reinforce the twelve cavalry brigades.

France intends to form entire battalions of cyclists. France Militaire of November 11, 1903, announced that the board on expenses granting the necessary sums laid down the condition "that this credit