Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-25
RECENT CONFLICT IN FRANCE
PROVES HANp.ro.hAND FIGHT.
ING is NOT OBSOLETE.
BATTLE OF AlsNE MAY
END WITH HoNoRs EVEN
Sheer Exhaustion May Compel cessa.
tion Of Hostilities on Present Field
Would Be in Reality Victory For Al
Iies-Italy May Soon Enter Con-
fct.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, Sept. 25-American
army men who are studying the tao
ties of the vast armies now at each
others throats in Europe say 1t looks
as if the bayonet had come into it's
own again
Students OF tactics can not fail to be
deeply interested in the reports OF the
nature of the fighting which has been
going on both in France and in Russia.
The Russians. It is quite plain, are
Placing much reliance on the bayonet
and are using it effectively. Their
troops are especially drilled in use of
the bayonet. The allies in the west,
unless reports are hopelessly distorted.
are doing likewise The Germans, in
the present battle Of the Aisne. are said
70 nave made numerous fierce charges
With the bayonet. Old soldiers distrust
stories OF wholesale use of the bayonet
Tor the simple reason that none but
the stoutest troops will stand up against
bayonet charge and meet it with the
Dayonet Nevertheless, it looks as if,
AFTER al! the volumes of talking and
writing about the obsoiescence oe the
bayonet 1t has been proven that fight
ing men. ignoring the development of
modern-rang bullets. felt impelled to
get back to more primeval weapons
and go at it handto hand. We shall
proDably hear no more of the hasty ad-
wee OF some military experts that the
payonet might as we'll be discarded as
useless incumbrance.
Battle Of Aisne Greatest Of War.
The battle of the Aisne will go down
In history as one Of the greatest of
the present war. 1t is clear that it
has already eclipsed the battle of the
Marine in severity and in the difficult
ties attending 1t. On the whole, there
has been harder fighting and the
weather has been such as greatly TO
add TO the sufferings of the troops.
The rains. the chill winds. the flooded
conditions of some d the ground
fought over the muddy roads, all mean,
10 anyone who has seen armies in the
held under such conditions, not merely
that the discomforts of the troops are
vastly increased but that the deple
lions thru sickness and death are much
enlarged. Moreover, 1t becomes often
times impossible to drive home blows
which would otherwise succeed under
such conditions. 1t requires the highest
kind of morals and zeal in troops to
get them to stand up and face the
music at such times. So 1t becomes
matter of consequence, even more than
in favorable weather. whether troops
feel they are winning or losing.
May End in Draw.
An army compelled to retreat with
the weather and the roads such ass
they now are in northern France is in
particularly unenviable situation, de-
spite the fact the difficulties of pur-
suit are much enhanced. The large
caliber howitzers OF the Germans in
retreat might become much more of
liability than an asset, because to move
them on the best roads is problem of
no easy solution.
1t has been suggested that this great
battle may practically end in a draw
each side. However, something in the
nature of a drawn engagement would
be more favorable to the allies than
the Germans. Time is fighting harder
for the allies than for their opponents.
With every week that passes. the Eng
lish forces ready for use in France in
crease largely in numbers and the
stubborn fighting of these troops al
ready makes 1t plain they are likely
to decide the outcome OF the war OF
the western front. Moreover. there
seems growing reason to believe Italy
will soon launch thunderbolt at the
German Austrian alliance and this will
much increase the difficulties of that
alliance.