themselves over and over again,
as the records of the Campaign abundantly testify.

Besides, on these relay duties the cyclists can be tactically employed
in the district which our Cavalry by its patrols commands, for the
rapid occupation of far-advanced posts which neither Cavalry nor
Infantry can reach with sufficient celerity and in adequate force; for
the defence of defiles lying to our rear, which must be kept open to
secure the retreat of the Cavalry; for the support of Independent
Cavalry on outpost duty, particularly at night; and for other similar
purposes. To satisfy all these conditions, these cyclist detachments
require a sufficient tactical training, but in times of peace one sees
in this respect feats performed whose impracticability in War are
glaringly apparent. For instance, men keep their cycles with them
right up in the firing line, and when they want to retreat or break
off the fight they try to mount under fire. As they are generally tied
to the roads, they then file off to the flanks. I have, indeed, often
seen Cyclist detachments lay down their cycles in the front of the
position, and then advance to mount them again in the teeth of the
enemy's fire. All these kind of things are absurd. The cycles must be
treated like the led horses of the Cavalry--that is to say, the men
must dismount under cover, then move up to the firing line, and then
move back to cover in order to mount again. The position must,
moreover, be so chosen as to enable them to move off without exposing
themselves. All these points, which in practice are rendered
difficult, diminish very materially the usefulness of cyclists, and
take away from them, above all, their power of offence; and in all
missions entrusted to them these limitations must be carefully kept in
mind.

II

ORGANIZATION AND TRAINING

CHAPTER I

NUMBERS

ORGANIZATION AND TRAINING

When we take into consideration the conditions of modern Warfare, as I
have endeavoured in the foregoing pages to develop them--the numerical
strength of modern Armies; the numerous formations of Artillery and
Infantry set on foot on the outbreak of hostilities; the area of
future theatres of operations--when, further, we consider how many
important tasks await the Cavalry from the moment when the first shot
is fired, and how the most important of these, as I have endeavoured
to establish, can only be dealt with satisfactorily by the employment
of Cavalry 'Masse