The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-29 00:00:00

THE USE OF TEE LANCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF TAE SUN.
SlR,—Seeing that the 17th Lancers are under orders
for the East, and having lately noticed several articles on
the use of the lance as a weapon for a dragoon, I beg
leave to offer a few remarks on the subject. In the first
place, it is but right that the force sent out should be as
efficient as possible ; and that brings us to the question,
Is the lance really a fit arm to send a man into the field
with ? In my opinion it is not. The Lancer is fur-
nished with a pole, ten feet long, which on coming to the
guard presents a leverage of five feet to his opponent.
He is told to secure it well under his arm, of course to
prevent its being parried. But the moment he extends
his aria to deliver a point, there is no longer the elbow
to, secure the lance, and his thrust might be parried by
a cane or a riding whip. In the first division of the
, lance exercise (against Cavalry) the front parry, as it
is called, is ridiculous. The idea of breaking a swords-
man's guard by moving this pole 12 inches to the left,
same to the right, and then point I I believe it was
once termed "front wave and point." Properly speak-
ing, it is a wave of the flag and nothing else. We are
told it is done to frighten the horses, but I would advise
them to settle the man first. In the third division
(against cavalry) he is told to make a sweeping parry
round the body, so as to knock a man off his horse. This
cannot be done by any Lancer unless he is extended to
give room. With closed files he would knock his com-
rades right and left ; in fact, it could not be done at all,
and if separated in the field, I would advise him to throw
away his lance, draw sword, and become at once a Light
Dragoon.
To allow the free use of the lance his belt is shortened,
so as to place the pouch between the shoulders, almost
out of reach when wanting to load his pistol. At one
time ten of a troop carried carabines, to use which they
had to sling lance on the bridle-arm, making it almost
useless—for, encumbered in that way, he would make
but a poor skirmisher. On active service the Lancer
will often have to pass through woods, and rough ones,
too ; he will again find the lance troublesome either slung
or at the trail. Depend on it, it is more for sight than
service. Stay, if they must be sent out, Ist them be at-
tached to the Commisary Department, for a lance is a capital
thing to drive oxen with. My object is to remove what I
firmly believe to be a false notion as regards the lance
for a mounted man. It is true a high opinion has been
formed of the lance from the exploits of the Cossacks in
the retreat from Moscow. Wonderful affair ! hordes of
rough warriors harassing half-frozen soldiers during a
long and toilsome march ! Let them try it on in the
more genial climate of Turkey, and I'll back the Hussar
and Light Dragoon.
Should you be pleased to insert this, it may be the
means of drawing attention to the subject, and will
much oblige your humble servant,

COUP DE SABRE.

GUN-BOATS WANTED FOR THE BALTIC.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—As it appears that Russia has been for some
time using prodigious efforts to increase the number of
her gun-boats, it is earnestly to be hoped that our gal-
lant Baltic fleet will not be suffered to Ite deficient in
this very important class of vessels in that' sea.
Some of our splendid line-of-battle ships may (as has
before happened in those waters)jrunaground at a most
critical period of action, and perhaps be exposed to be
disabled and destroyed by the raking fire from swarms
of heavily-armed gun-boats, who could choose their own
position in shallow water.

It is, therefore, most essential that we should have
abundant means of occupying the attention of this kind
of craft.

The employment of steam gun-boats in addition to
those of the ordinary construction would afford us an
immense advantage ; but this suggestion, although re-
peatedly made by naval officers and others, has not yet
met with the attention which it deserves.
Of course it is to be presumed that both the Baltic and
Black Sea fleets will have powerful divisions of bomb-
ships attached to them, carrying the heaviest description
of mortar.—l remain, sir, your very obedient servant,
A RETIRED ARTILLERY OFFIOgR.
Portsmouth, March 27, 1854,