• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
 
 
 U.S. NAVAL INSTITUTE, ANNAPOLIS, MD.SABRE and BAYONET
1
 By Civil Engineer A. C. Cunningham, U. S. Navy.
Until within a couple of years the sabre and bayonet had become be regarded inthe United States Service as practically obsolete weapons. Probably their estimatedvalue as weapons reached lowest ebb during the Boer War, for in that conflict the Boerswere not only seldom within hand reach, but seldom even in plain sight.A tendency to underestimate the sabre and bayonet in the United States is anatural one. For many years our only conflicts were with hostile Indians who were sosuccessful in evading personal encounter that the sabre and bayonet came to seemencumbrances. Improvement in firearms has been the strongest against hand to handweapons, for with increased rapidity and accuracy of fire it has become almost suicidalto venture into the open when near the enemy.In the United States the sword has never been a part of every man's personal andnecessary equipment as it was in more ancient times in Europe, and consequently therehas been no individual sentiment and association connected with it. The bayonet is a
1
 
 The illustrations of this article were posed for by the author, the new army cavalry sabre and the new army rifle with 16-inch bayonetbeing used.Harris & Ewing, photographers
 
 
comparatively modern weapon, having originated in Bayonne the latter part of i6ooand has no individual association to create sentiment in its favor.Notwithstanding the increasing opinion that the sabre and bayonet wereobsolete, the influence and counsel of a few wise minds had saved them fromextinction. The fact that a bayonet could be used as an intrenching tool helped save that,and that other nations retained the sabre for, at least, what had been accomplished withit, may have had some influence in the case.The results of the Russo-Japanese War have entirely changed the prevailing ideasregarding sabres and bayonets, for this conflict was between combatants who did notevade hand to hand encounters when opportunity offered. It was early discovered inthis war that the retarding effect of rapid and accurate gun-fire did not exist undercover of darkness, and that hand to hand conflicts could be precipitated at night. Whensuch an affair occurs the side that is the best armed and trained for it will be victorious.
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...