BICYCLE QUICK-FIRERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 78, 9 April 1913, Page 5

BICYCLE QUICK-FIRERS.

NTERESTING EXPERIMENTS IN

FRENCH ARMY

For the past six months the French' Army has hben braking practical tests of a quick-firing gun carried on bicycles. These trials are now being brought to a close, and if, as is generally supposed, the official report is satisfactory, all the infantry regiments will be equipped with bicycle quick-firers in place of the horse or mule teams. The company being tested consists of 22 men, each one having a bicycle. The firing section of each company comprises a lieutenant, a sergeant carrying 800 cartridges on his machine, two corporals each carrying 800 cartridges, two gunners with bicycles carrying the gun, two assistants with the stand for the gun, two more assistants carrying the pivoting support and 500 cartridges, and two privates, one of whom carries 800 cartridges. The firing section thus consists of 12 men and twelve bicycles, while the ammunition section is made up of ten men and 10 bicycles. The cycles were built by a leading French firm, and are very strong but light machines, having a gunmetal finish and wheels of 23in. diameter. They are geared very low, and the riders sit so low that they can easily put foot to the ground to maintain equilibrium. As the men generally wear heavy army boots, a special type of rat-trap pedal with toe clips is employed. The weight of each machine is 261b5.; as the gun weighs 1321bs and the weight of the man may be between 130 and ISOIbs., the total load is considerable. According to the information obtainable, the results are superior to those obtained with horses. Under the old system it is often necessary for the guns to be taken off the horses and carried by the man who is going into action. Very little cover is obtainable when animals are used, whereas, with the bicycle, the men can advance to the most advantageous positions, whilst keeping under cbvef. To get the gun into action only requires 19 seconds, which is a great gain.