Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-17
DECIDING ON THE BAYONET.
How the President Demonstrated Hi:
Point of View to Gen. Crozier.

Since the departure OF President
Roosevelt for his vacation a story mas
licked out illustrating anew his YER
satility and physical energy. Gen.
FrazcHof the British army, who was u
guest at the White House not so long
ago. told of the incident after leaving
thing ne had so far observed in the
Frazer sat in the presidents office on
Il day when Gen. CrOzic". head of The
army ordnance corps, brought in nj;
new rod bayonet to show the president.
Gen. CroZier was responsible for the
rod bayonet, which was simply a modi-
tication of the end Of the new Spring
field rifles cleaning rod, about the
tt ickness Of Il lead pencil, with a
rounGed. sharpened point. This bayo
net end on the cleaning rod could be
pulled out II or II inches, clamped in
place and there you were. The soldier
needed no longer to carry a bayOnct
at his side. He could tote an intrcnch-
ing spade instead.
When officers, who had been observ-
ing The war in Manchuria, returned
with their report of bayOnct charges by
jap and Russian. a storm of criticism
developed against the Crozier rod bayo-
net. Army officers wanted to retain
the present substantial. ssivagc-lOoking
knife bayonet. The manufacture Of the
new SprinGfields, all equipped with rod
bayOEets, was stopped while the ques-
ton hung in allegiance. President
Roosevelt threw the weight of his in
fiucnce i'm the scale against the new rod
bayOnet. On the morning of which
Gen. Frazer told his friends Gen.
Crozicr had brought one of the new
SpriGgficlds. equipped with the rod
bryonct. to show the president how
practical tool it was. Gen. CroZier
had IL pine plank with him and he
drove the rod bayon"t several times
though the plank with the triumphant
air of the magician doing = card trick.
"Thnrc," he said. You see"
Il don't know whether I do or not.
said the president. and took hand
himsclf He drove the i,ay"nct through
the pine plank. but that did not satisfy
him. Then he demanded TO know how
the rod bayonct would stand up in Il
contest against soldier equipped with
the present knife bayOnet. Gen
Crozicr insisted that the man armed
with the knife bayonet would have no
advantage.
Lets see about that" exclaimed the
chief executive.
He sent "A messenger out for a krag-
Jorgensen rifle equipped with knife
bayonet. 1t came.
Nov you stand over in that corner
CroZier." directed the president. I'm
| attacking you. you know"
Swinging the heavy Krag in practiced
hands the president danced across to
| the chicfOf the ordnance corps. who held
| his rifle loosely in his hands and looked
at his adversary in Il rather bewildered
way. 1t is a rather sudden shock to
| find yourself involved IN bayone'
| fight with the chief executive of the
government.
stand UP to it. Crozier!." cried ths
president. "On guard man."
Gen. Crozicr thereupon fell into posi-
tion and guarded. The president made
half a dozen quick passes with his riil"
| then wild whoop. There was a cat
ter of Steel and half Of Gen. Crozier's
| rod bayoret fell to the floor. With ar
old fencing trick, the president had
| caught it under his bayonets guard
and ever it's blade. With one twist ol
his powerful wrists he had broken thf
rod bayonet in halves.
! II don't think your rod bayonet Is
much good, Crozier." he said with q
laugh. Gen. Crozier could not think OF
anything more to say just at that time
He stood, bewildered, with his rifle II
his hands and looked from the jagged
remains of the bayonet cn the end te
the half of it lying on the floor.
Pretty soon he departed.
1t made a great hit with Gen. Frazer
of the British army. NOW there is
man for YOU" he told his friends. my
word! Think Of it! That's the kind O
a president 20 have. man who no.
\ only understands technical military