Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-10-22
MQ1EI2Y SQLl4lRE sHZEZD

me for even II the defense Is not penetrated
the resultant shock Is serious as q puhet
wound. 1t is therefore this glancing surface
which should be studied II armour is TO have any
pace In modern warfare, and metal OF a hlgh
temper and light in weight should be employed.
IL Is nnthinkabe that such defenses will ever be
omcally recognized for. II issued on q large
scale. they would greatly impede the mobility OF
troops already carrying more dead weight than
did the soldier of the sixteenth century In his
suit of half-armor. II such contriyances are pur-
chased privately exhaustive test should be in.
sisted upon and proof should be recorded by
some responsible body, as II was In the days OF
Charles |, when the Armorers company Of Lon
don were ordered to carry out such tests and
stamp all armor that satisfied the conditions
with their mark. If these defenses are care.
lessly made OF Indifferent material they will
suredly be far more Of danger than protec-
tion.
1t is impossible to criticize the modern produc.
lions without seeing them in actual IN the
trenches but It would that the pistol
shield with crossed bars is In direct opposition
TO the theory that the glancing surface" is OF
Importance, for here. wherever the bullet strikes,
II will deliver the full force OF its blow and will
not fly of at a tangent as It would from Henry
Wits pistol shield which is preserved M the
Tower The plain sknll.eap seems to fulfill the
required conditions. except that II should be
provided with brim curyng outward, like the
chapel de fer Of the sixteenth century The
French helmet appears TO provide lodg
ments for the bullet in the straight brim ard
high comb. but again II should be noted that II is
impossible to criticize practically until the de-
Tense is seen In action.
Besides the ordinary body of the late
seventeenth century in the Tower collection
there are a few interesting specimens OF siege
implements which the precursors OF modern
contrivances. The ohevanx de frise of the days
of Wellington are series of sergeants pixies
Joined by horizontal rods. and arranged that
they be stretched across a road or the breach
In a wall as a protection against cayalry-an
ticipation OF the present barbed wire entangle-
ment The sappers manles of leather and iron
have continued In use from the time of the Ro
mans up to today. and the weghty frappngs
that were used in the riddle OF the seventeenth
century show that then armor was serious
ly used In the trench work. Several OF the eight.
zenith century muskets Ia the Tower of London
have brass cups fixed to the barrel butt from
which grenades were thrown necessary precau-
ton when the fuse used the slow match.
Step by step trace the evolution Of mill
tary invention and II is peculiarly interesting
to find that today In the light Of all our seen-
4 nc knowledge and experience are suddenly
forced back to make Of appliances Of four
hundred years ago which had hui recently
stigmattzpd as relics OF barbarism
The facts show that frem the stone age onward
armor never heranDe extinct II has always been
worn At Inc present dzy 10 be sure. appears
less for service J uniform OF the body
guard of royalty And recall thai cOrselet
and steel headpiece si seen IN II tames
park. in Potsdam. or indeed Republican