The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-26

lenclng master, Is too well known TO need
description; but the study of the sword be-
comes more interesting when this weapon is
pltted against a more formidable arm, such
as the lance or bayonet. The latter, too,
has had Its day, and the time is probably
not far distant when it will be banished
from all armies. A bayonet charge Is a
thrllllng thing to read about if the reader
can forget that it is one of the rarest oc-
currences in war, and old soldiers affirm
that during the whole of the great civil
contest IN this country, with its hundreds
OF battles and skirmishes there is not one
authentic instance Of bayonet hand-to-
ha0d fight.
The bayonet. however, like the sword, is
still retained; in the French army drill of
saoer agansg bayOnet is a matter of general
instruction, and often astounding skill is
acquired. Most people remembering how the
old style bayonet was affixed to the gun, and
with bayonet of the ordinary triangular
pattern, by a series of dexterous blows and
Jerks, an accomplished swOrdsman could
take the bayonet from his opponents gun
and receive 1t on the end of his saber. I'm
provements in bayonets now prevent this,
but still there is an opportunity for the dis
splay OF dexterity in fencing, either with
bayonets, or with the bayonet against the
sword. The French army is now equipped
with sword bayonets, and in fencing with
the gun the French Zouave probably sur
passes any soldier on the globe
With the sword, however, dexter;ty must
be acquired, not only in fencing but also in
cutting. The English dragons have the ex-
erciSe known as cutting the Turks
head" or the "Frenchmau's head or the
head OF man OF any nation for whom
they, for the moment, may feel animoslty.
A wooden head, surmounted by a turban,
tez or military cap, is supported by a
wooden peg an inch in thickness and set
upon post about az hight of that of the
average man. The trooper galops by at
full speed, and endeavors in passing to
cut the underpinnlng from the head with
out checking the speed of the horse An
other test of cleverness in swordsmanship is
that of lead-cutting, the lead in this case
being either a water pipe of an inch diane
ter, or solid lead cylinder. in this feat
dexterity counts for quite as much as
strength, for the lead must be severed by
drawing cut, which, cleverly given, accom-
plisheS far more than twice the force directly
applied.
Clever as are the French and English
Dragons IN the swordsmanship, they cannot
compare with the trick swordsmen Of India.
So sharp are the weapons of these adepts. so
delicate is the touch with which they are
used, that q lemon placed on the out
stretched hand will be cut exactly in twain.
the holder will feel the edge of the sword
like cold line across his palm. vet will
escape without scratch
The foregoing list of military sports is far
from exhaustive. In the French army and
navy there is practiced an exercise which is
at once instructive and profitable. 1t is a
sort OF rough-and- tumble fighting, on the
theory that man should use all the avail
able means OF defense at his control. In
this singular sport The hands, the elbows.
the feet, the knees and even the head may
be employed, and careful instruction is
given by masters of athletics as to the
proper circumstances under which any one
may be employed. Not long ago there
was q French man of war in the haroor
OF San Francisco, 6nd during the time
of her stay all the city crowded TO see
the daily exercises of the French sailors. 1t
was a rough-and-tumble scuffie Of the most
pronounced kind. Arms and legs, and all
other means Of offense and defense we're
employed by the clever Frenchmen, and the
of the system may be Judged
of from the fact that the drunken French
sailor succeeded in routing five sober DULLES
who attempted to impose upon him. One
he struck with his right hand, the second
with his left, with each foot another was
discomtted, and putting his head down
and running full-tilo at the fifth he laid him
9SN'SONSSS IL
the stomach.
Wrestling and boxing are far from being
mere exhibitions of brute force, for the ut
most science may be displayed in either.
Of those exercises, however, which relv
purely upon physical strength, the most in
teresting is the tug of war, favorite sport
with sailors OF every navy. A long rope is
provided, two leaders are chosen, who then
select their own followers; the two sides are
nil fnh mir zt aOh nkt
the rope, and whichever bears away the
rope takes also the prize. Interesting as are
these tugs, involving as they do the poss-
bllity OF defeat to either side from an I'M
fortunate slip or fall, they become still more
interesting when men are pitted against
Among the British troops in
India these trials are common; two. three
or five men are pitted against a horse.
according to the supposed strength Of the
from six to ten men against
cSmel, and the same number against a yoke
of oxen. But the most interesting exhlbi-
ton of this famous sport is when a number
OF men, from 80 to 100, are pitted against
an elephant. The result is by no means
certain for although law
or sulky elephant may allow him.
self to be beaten and held in
his place by fifty men, it has sometimes
happened that an unusually large or vigor-
Gus animal mas walked on with the rope
dragging 100 men along the ground No
discredit to the men, however, need be at
tributed for their defeat, for such is the
strength of this enormous animal that an
elephant will drag gun and caison fifty
miles day and seem as fresh in the even,
ing as in the morning.
Efforts have been made from time to time
TO introduce sports of these and other kinds
into the American army. They have some
times succeeded. but as rule our soldiers
DO not seem to take so much interest in attn
etics as do the men of foreign countries.
A little more interest shown in the subject
by the officers might produce favor
able results, for the Americans. as a
rule, are fond of amusements, and
were adequate incentives offered in the
shape of prizes, no doubt our soldiers would
soon rival those Of Great Britain. France
and Germany. The money outlay need not
be large. A medal costing s. is by most
men more highly priced than five times the
amount OF money necessary to purchase it,
and if the war department would provide
rewards for excellence in military exercises.
no doubt military sports would become as
popular in the United States army as in
that of any other nation.
y u,rnrar