2 
in cantonment, for postal service. 
Lastly, with rear-guards and on lines of communication, where cyclists ought 
to be made use of so as to avoid any requisitions upon the cavalry squadrons. 
The practical utility of the cycle, already proved by the experiences of the 
grand manoeuvres, thus obtained official recognition. 
But, up to that time, there had been no official instructions with regard to the 
recruiting and training of cyclists, their armament, position, etc. 
This gap has just been filled by a scheme for the regulation of military cycling, 
dated 20 th May, 1895. 
It contains six articles— 
1. —A description of the different parts of the machine. 
2. —The care to be taken of the machine. 
3. —-Expenses of maintenance and of replacing. 
4. —Control of the machines. 
5. —Instruction of the cyclists 
6. —Dress, armament and equipment. 
Instruction .—In each battalion, the men who are to receive this special 
instruction are selected by the battalion commander, who takes soldiers of good 
character, acquainted as far as possible with the use of the bicycle and having a 
sufficient military training. 
The men go through a course of several weeks’ duration. At the beginning 
and end of the first week they are examined by a board of military doctors with 
regard to their physical constitution and powers of endurance. 
The instruction is given by an officer who is a good cyclist and well acquainted 
with the care of machines, assisted by a certain number of N.-C.O.’s. The 
course is begun with practice-cycles upon prepared ground and is continued out¬ 
side as soon as the pupils are sufficiently advanced for the purpose. The duration 
of the exercises, which is at first from !-§• up to two hours, is gradually extended 
to four hours at varying rates of speed. When the course of instruction is 
finished, long rides at great speed are practised, at first upon good level roads, 
afterwards upon hilly roads, and lastly upon unmade roads. At the same time, 
the employment of the revolver, when on the march, is practised and also 
the reading of maps, the examination of ground, and the method of making a 
report. The military cyclist, when on the march, should be able to read a map 
or a written order, and to use his revolver. 
There are also regulations with regard to dress and equipment. A sword- 
bayonet is strapped on to the body of the machine and a revolver is carried in the 
pocket. 
It will be seen by this summary that instruction in cycling in the German 
Army is carried on in a methodical and progressive manner, notwithstanding the 
preference given to men with some previous knowledge of this exercise. It is 
thought that, in order to make a good military cyclist it is not enough to know 
how to manage the machine, but that the very troublesome and delicate service, 
which will be imposed upon him, day and night, during a campaign, requires 
special physical and moral qualities, which can only be acquired by a well con¬ 
sidered training and education. Constantly left to themselves and out of the way 
of supervision, military cyclists will not play their part with success, unless they 
combine with great physical endurance, a strong sense of duty and a careful 
training. 
It may be remarked that the German official documents treating of the bicycle 
only allude to it as a means of communication ; indeed, the armament of the cyclist 
excludes all idea of joining in the combat. It is probable that the experience 
gained in the course of the manoeuvres of 189 5 will mark the point of departure 
of important modifications, both in the armament of the c yclists and in their em¬ 
ployment in the field. 
