The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-27
FORBID PARRIES IN NEW
u. S. CAVALRY CHARGE

San Antonio, Tex, Aug. 2l.-Unit-
ed States troops must not defend
themselves when making a sabre
charge. except as their own thunder
bolt onslaught overrides and smashes
! through the enemy.
No longer may the cavalryman slash
and cut as in the typical battle paint
! ing. The new cavalry manual forbids
1t. He batters. stabs and passes by.
/ 1t is the business of the trooper to
transfix his Immediate enemy and he
prepared for a new foe. The cavalry
| is to be an offensive arm. The old
| fashioned curved saber encouraged
PAIRING and fencing The new saber
| is a long. straight, tapering weapon
which could hardly be used for slash
ing, but is magnificent as a thrusting
weapon.
| With this new system OF cavalry
warfare in the American army has
developed a new spirit. Long months
of practice have convinced officers
that the new saber usage is better
adapted not only to the needs of war,
but to the American temperament as
| well.
The saoer is solely a weapon of
offense," say the new cavalry man
ual for the use of the new saber. and
confidence in this assertion Is what
| has caused the change in style of
| sabers, necessitating the expenditure
OF thousands of dollars and the con-
domination OF thousands of sabers
already manufactured and stored away
! for future use. The new saber has
two keen edges, but the manual makes
II plain that these edges are to assist
the blade in piercing and to enable
the trooper to withdraw the weapon
quickly from the body OF the enemy.
"A disa bled foe Is the best parry"
declares the manual.
The saber is used in connection
with the other offensive weapon, the
horse" continue the Instructions I'm
all training the idea OF speed must be
conserved. No direct parties are
taught. because at the completion Of
a parry the enemy Is already beyond
the reach OF attack"
In the charge and in the melee the
trooper must remember that on the
speed of his horse and on his own
offensive spirit rest nine-tenths Of his
success To increase this offensive
spirit the trooper Is first taught on
foot the chief purpose being to In
crease ready attack. accuracy, quick
ness, and. above ali, to make the
thrust instructive.
A few guards are taught, but only
the most elementary. At first the
instructor carries no saher, but eludes
the pupil by quickness OF movement.
This teaches initiative on the part OF
the student-soldier.
That many Of the old regulars who
CARED tho slashfng saber in many
hard-fought Indian struggle. and
there are thousands In the army who
have used tie old fashioned saber in
actual warfare. find 1t hard to use
the newer weapon, Is shown by a
paragraph of the manual:
There Is strong tendency among
the pupils under the old rules to
seek the blade OF the opponent and
brush 1t aside before making the
thrust This IL now prohibited. A
quick attack, a wounded foe--that Is
what Is sought
I'm the charge the trooper Is mere
ly a projectile, the saber the point
Each man Is a. unit In line rushing
on the enemy with the one idea OF
riding him down and transfixing him
with his right saber at the position
of charge saber."
Charge saher'' Is the position when
the weapon Is extended horizontally
with the body, point forward. elbow
1 bent blade sianttng downward
Here ts what a trooper LIS supposed
TO do after the cavalry has struck the
enemy and IL engaged In a melee:
When the ranks are broken he and
his opponent have moro room. Then
ne takes the position OF guard to-
ward the nearest enemy and at the
right moment makes a lunge and
transfixes him. The speed OF the
horse 10 such that II the trooper waits
70 do fancy fencing with his adversary
the enemy will be out OF reach CT
him before the thrust can be extend
ed, whereas, IL he ride at him with
saber extended. lunge at the body, he
will. In so doing, thrust the enemy's