New-York tribune., 1905-03-07
NEW RIFLES EFFECTIVE.
Change IN Form of BayOnet Can BE
Easily Made.

1yashinrton March s-Reports which have been
made by officers recently returned from outy with
the Japanese army in Mancnuria supply ntorna-
tion which seems to indicate n sun greater Coi-
hrmatiOu OF the lessons OF previous wars, notably
of that CT South Africa. that the increasing EN-
cheney of the rifle was operating TO prohibit the
ground in front OF troops in position to assauItng
forces and that this in some cases might De sup
posed TO have proceeded far to force the
abandonment of the attack OF such positions oy
daylight and the recourse to the method heretotore
considered almost impractcabe. OF night at'ach'
the means for carrying out which. as regular
operation, will have to be learned. There is thus
the somewhat singular effect of the excellence OF
The rifle that II in some cases necessltates the
PRODUCTION OF conditions under which hand-to-hand
lighting may be again expected; -,.r,o-a,d,,-,
This statement IS contained In q memorandum
submitted BY General Crozier chief OF ordnance 10
which has arisen as to the expediency of equipping
the army rifle with the rod in place OF the the
knife bayonet. He mas caused 10 De Hlaoe a hulloSI
of bayOnets of different form and size, some RODS
nets, and some or knife Lofnl ana Win 5 IlsSe ne
General Staff, at General Croziers suggestion Is
- lne ietr @ DOLL l,,r1 a, i whether or not real
bayonet Of first class type is shown to be necessary
by the Developments of the war There mas been
secondafy Importance combining its functions as
q stabbing implement with that OF cle9nlns roo
long range modern rifle had made it impossible fo-
troops to charge in the open in the old way. But
General Crozier now says
stitutes a new consideration, and II 1t can be re-
garded as established the bayOnet again becomes a
weapon of first class importance, and must be so
designed to be efficient instrument From
this point view the rod bayoneJ fails TO meet the
requirements. it Is not, and never was thought
intended to be, thoroughly efficient weapon for
hand TO hand combat.
General Crozer has foreseen this state OF affairs.
and has had the army rife made so that by
trihing alienation involving nothing serious
than the cutting away of a couple of inches of the
wooden hand guard at the muzzle. the rod bayonet
viii give place TO either the knife the hated
bayOnet. the question of which the General STAFF
is to determine. Secretary Taft having referred the
subject to It. 1t is made clear that there has been
no excessive waste In the making OF the new arm.
nor will its issue TO the service be much delayed BY
q decision to change the form of bayonet-
AS a misunderstanding exists in some quarters
respecting the qualities OF the rifle, General
CroZier's memorandum includes reports made 10
him from troops In the field and from board COM
posed OF Captains FoltZ, I'd Cavalry; Ramsey and
MunsOn. 9Th Infantry, and Dickson. ordnance de-
partment, probably the most noted marksmen and
experts with small arms the army. which
tablish the fact that the new gun Is far superior
TO the Krag military weapon, considering the
peculiar needs OF the United States army, both
In nghtness, efficiency and durability. 1t is as
serted positively that the reco is not greater than
that OF the Krag