The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-11-12
The Bayonet Obsolete.

In a review Of Lieutenant Barring
"Staff College Essays" writer in the
London Aheneum says:
"The first essay in the book is "On
the Changes in the Art Of War from
from 1889 to 1922" and the subject is
treated so well that we trust that we may
ere long be favored with sequel, show
ing what changes have been brought
about by the improvements in ordnance,
in rifles, and in the introduction. Of
railways, as tested by the experiencesof
the campaign now being carried onSn
France. That portion Of the chapter
which is devoted to tactics is especially
interesting at the present moment,
when that branch of the art Of war is
in a transition state; the opinions
of many military men still wav-
ering between the line and column
formation. The result will prob
ably be a combination Of the two
such, indeed, as was employed by
Napoleon at the battle Of Austerlitz,
when the French army had attained its
highest tactical development. Many
writers have been of opinion that the
bayonet will practically tall into disuse
now that rifle fire is so rapid and accu-
rate; but we confess that we think that,
on the contrary, its moral effect will be
greater than ever AS to the actual in
Fiction Of wounds by the bayonet, save
in isolated combats, such as the series
of skirmishes of which the hattie Of
Inkerman was made up, or in encoun-
ters in villages, the idea that bayonets
have been really often crossed, is delu-
sion founded on national vanity, and not
warranted by facts.
"'Jomini says that henever witnessed
battle in which the opposing troops
crossed bayonets; and Sir Sibbard Scott
quotes the evidence Of distinguished
army surgeon, who accompanied the
Duke of Wellington from Rolica to Wa
terloo; to prove that, however gratifying
to our national vanity it is to suppose
that the successes Of the British army
were mainly won by the bayonet, as a
matter of fact the killed and the woun-
ded in euch battle, whether French or
English, suffered from bullets and not
from bavonets.
1T may seem that we are indulging
in paradox when we say that the
bayonet has a moral rather than a
physical effect; but it is nevertheless
true. If one or two opposing battallons
appear resolute in their purpose Of en-
gagng in a hand to hand fight, the
other recognizes in their opponents a
confident superiority which seldom fails
of effect, and induces retreat or flight
before the moment of actual contact.
We believe-and the experience Of the
recent battles in France confirms our
opinion-that the increased rapidlty
and accuracy OF fire, and above all
the use of shelter trenches, will
cause the bayonet to be more
used than formerly. The assailants Of
position defended by shelter-trenches
will feel that their fire-they being ex-
posed and the enemy covered-is in a
great measure thrown away, and that
the sooner they close with the foe, the
sooner will they be on an equality with
him. Fire alone will never drive reso-
lutte men ont of trenches. Again, sup
posing two opposing battalions, both
without cover, firing at each other, say,
800 yards distance, the fire will soon be-
come so intolerable that brave men will
seek to end the havoc by charge, the
less courageous by fight