THE BICYCLE IN WARTIME.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2180, 29 October 1897, Page 3

THE BICYCLE IN WARTIME.

THE WAR ARTIST EQUIPPED. During a conversation with a cycle agent recently, the "Anecdotes" man learned that Frederic Villiers, the famous war artist, had had a bicycle specially built for him to take out on his next campaign. Needless to say, no time was lost in getting a peep at it. And a line to that intrepid sketeler aud correspondent was answered by an invitation to rim down to his cosy little villa in a north-west suburb and have a chat over afternoon tea. WHAT IT IS REALLY LIKE.

A cordial greeting from this handsome man—whose adventures sound more like fairy tales than actual happenings —was accorded the "Anecdotes" man, who was then led to a substantial little outhouse that is the stable of his steel steed.

"There she is," he announced, in ringing tones. "Made by Humber's, specially to my own design. And the next time I go to the front my cycle goes with me, for I have a great belief in the possibilities of the wheel far the work of a war artist. Often in my career have my efforts been cramped by the fact that a horse becomes used-up after, at the very outside limit, fifty miles in a day. With a cycle the question is only one of my own powers of endurance, and fairly decent roads. CYCLING IN THE SAHARA.

"You see, I have had the frame built a good foot higher than usual. This is to keep the pedals from striking against rocks and stones when passing over rough ground. Also, it enables me to see over hedges, and get a better view of the country around. On a machine of this description I believe very valuable service could be rendered, say, in a district such as that of the Nile. Many parts of the Sahara would afford quite good going, for the surface is not all loose sand, large areas being more like hard-baked clay.

"My brake, you will notice, acts on a drum on the hub of the rear wheel. It is a very powerful one, and is made in this way in order not to destroy the tyres, which are 'Dunlops,' with selfsealing inner tubes. For convenience in cartage, when not in actual use. the cycle takes in half, there being a joint in the framework; and when disjointed in this way, the machine can easily be carried on one's back.

"The machine itself weighs well under forty pounds; but my luggage, sketching materials, camera, watch and numerous wallets, run the total up to nearer seventy pounds, so I am not likely to beat many records when thus equipped, though I feel, sure that, under ordinary conditions, I shall hare the advantage of the horsemen. "I always cany with me meat extract in some form or other; which, with hot water and a little bread or rice, forms a sustaining soup. If hot water is not to be had, the meat extract spread upon bread or biscuit, makes a palatable sandwich; and," continued Mr Villiers, with a smile, "if you can't get bread or biscuit, well, you swallow the extract as it is, and so sustain life. I was over thirty-six hours without food at Port Arthur during the Japo-Chinese war ; and I believe a newspaper in which sandwiches had been wrapped would have seemed a dainty nourishment at the end of that time!" Mr Villiers, it will be remembered, was for some while the only European correspondent with the Japanese army; and it was only by a series of ingenious and daring manoeuvres that he succeeded in keeping right in front throughout the thick of the fighting. And nothing could seem more curious than to hear him. as he slowly stirred his cup of tea in his quiet studio, that is not half-an-hour's run from St. Paucras, telling of exploding shells, of horses shot under him, and similar trifling incidents, in exactly the same way as other folks would talk of missing a train or being caught in a rain-shower.

The "Anecdotes" man was game to listen to these stories until well on into the evening; but Mr Villiers was off to give one of his popufer lectures, and so the chat came to an end—"Anecdotes."