The Port Gibson reveille., 1908-09-24
THIE- IsWo6Rp.
The Reason for It's Restoration In
European Armies.

s"S HS9SOH fol tAs nSStOfatiSH hs
European Armies.
As result of experiences of officers
in the Boer war, Great Britain relegat-
ed the sword entirely to parade uses.
In its place officers were supplied
with a small carbine, something like
the ancient fusil, which they we're to
carry in actual service. In effect the
officer was made to look like the en-
listed man as much as possible. Those
long distance marksmen, the Beers,
picked out the officers by the flash Of
their swords and consequently the
mortality among holders of commits
sions was great, to the decentralization
of the men in the ranks. Germany
for the same reason also took away
the sword from officers and armed
them with small rife. The theory
of the change was that all wars were
fought and would continue to be fought
at such long ranges that the sword
would be of no value as weapon,
while officers would be made more
conspicuous targets by brandishing 1t
and as they directed the movements
of their men, Now as the result Of
the observations of the Russo-Japanese
war the sword has been restored to
officers both of the British and the
German armies. The fierceness Of the
struggle between the Japanese and the
Russians, the frequency with which
both armies fought at close quarters,
the activity displayed by the Japanese \
officers in personal leadership, the fire.
quent value of the sword not only in
pointing the way but in personal COM \
bats, have wrought a radical change
in European expert opinion as to its
value. 1t is realized that practice has
impeached theory and that men in
spired by heroic leadership or by pa
triotic impulse will disregard zones OF
fire and will rush them with such en-
eTgy as to discompose defenders arm
ed with long range weapons and rem
der their aim wild.
The argument for the restoration OF
the sword is both practical and senti-
mental. It is to the officer what the
baton is to the orchestra leader, even
if he is not called upon to use it in
self-defence. In the past it has ever
been the point of charge and it has
always been the mark of the officer
Reasons which may be called those OF
morale have also pleaded for its res
toration. There is a distinction which
cannot be obliterated and never should
be ignored between the officer and the
man. Anything which deprives the
former of distinguishing mark OF
his rank must react on discipline and
interfere with that subordination with
out which an army soon becomes but
a mob, distinguished from other mobs
only by the uniformity of its clothing.
Fanciful as it may appear to civilians,
there can be little doubt that the Off
Ger without his sword is an officer who
has undergone a considerable reduc-
ton of his influence.
Probably the future use of the sword
will be simply to emphasize the lead
ership of officers. Personal combats
will become rare despite the record OF
the Japanese war. Such a persistent
death-despising hatred as the armies |,
of Russia and Japan manifested for
each other is not frequently encoun-
tered In history Most armies, espe-
cially those of the great military pow
ers. fought with a purely professional !
interest, and entertained for one an
other no feeling resembling rancor.
Long range firing efficiency still prom
ises to be the determining factor OF /
battles. other conditions being equal.
Personal encounters between officers
of high rank are of infrequent occur
renee. Some of the most distinguish
ed leaders of men in battle have relied
upon personal example of indifference
to danger rather than upon weapons.
Murat found a riding wand sufficient
for his purposes in directing the
charge of the Napoleonic cavalry He
very seldom wore a sword. Chinese
Gordon pointed the way of 'the ever
inyincible army" with bamboo cane'
and doubtless other instances might
be cited of. generals who in service
never drew a sword for any purpose
other than to return a salute.-Boston
Transcript.