The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-04-28
BAYoNETS WERE EFFECTIVE.
Despite the Wondrous Weapons of Mod
ern Warfare.

/ cIn warfare.
From staff correspondent OF the As.
ISOLATED Press with the British armies
in France, via London, April 2S.--Despite
all the wondrous war weapons modern
science has created, the cold steel of the
bayonet has asserted itself anew in
much OF the bitter fighting as the arm
of last appeal. As already related, the
struggles about Monchy lie Preux since
Monday have attained an intensity I'M
equalled by any of the fighting in the
Somme campaign last week.
There was one German position in
front of the town and paralleling the
Scarpe river which resisted four des-
perate attacks. 1t was finally decided
to take this position at the point of
the bayonet without firing shot which
would warn the enemy. The attack was
made along the front three-quarters Of
mile under cover of darkness.
The British battalions were formed
in comparatively close order and, at the
whispered word of command, repeated
along the line, trudged forward in the
night.
Grim and silent figures they were,
some in kits, some in plain khaki, each
man wearing a steel helmet, each grip
ping his rifle with bayonet fixed
Overhead shells were droning, and
back of the lines guns could be heard.
But it was only desultory lombard
ment and there were feeting intervals
of strange quiet just where the deter
mined line of British troops was APP
preaching their unguspecting grayclad
foes. Four unsuccessful daylight as
saults had left a touch of chagrin which
was to be wiped out in this getting" OF
man. There is little more to tell
The sound of the fighting in the
trenches was lost in the British barrage
which closed down some distance be-
hind the German position Immediately
the British signalled they had entered
the position. This barrage cut off any
German who attempted to flee from the
bayonet charge.
Thus, in 10 minutes with the silent |
bayonet was secured position which |
had held out for two days.
The bayonet also has come in effec- |
lively in dealing with the ever trouble |
some machine gun ard glinners A few
brave men, stealing out in the night,
have been able to accomplish much
Several British battalions have re.
ported in the past few days that the
Germans are again employing the old
"kamerad' ruse, suddenly standing up in
the shallow trenches and holding up
their hands and shouting across to their
Two battalions, believing the sinceri-
ty of this proposal, started across to
bring in the prisoners, but were imme
1iately attacked.
Incidents like this have helped mate
rally to make the fighting bitter to a
degree which has startled even those
men who have been in the battles since
The first German rush through Belgium.
The British have given unceasing at
.ention to the bayonet fighting drill in I
he past two years. The month of train
ng in England has been supplemented j
)y postgraduate courses in the great {
raining camps in France, and continued j
Is the units passed down through the
orps into divisions, brigades and battal- |
ons. The night before the Arras attack
ome sergeants could be heard giving
heir platoons last instructions. One Of
hese groups formed curious picture in
he moonlight. where all the air was
lectric with preparations for the com
ng clash at dawn. ,
Traffic along the choked road leading
oward the point OF contact with the en-
my suddenly stopped because Of tenn
orary block. The throbbing motor en-
ines were throttled down to an almost
naudible purr; the tired horses dragging
rmy wagons or artillery limbers stood :,
nth the stiffness OF near exhaustion. =
heir drivers heads dropped limp as :
hey snatched few moments of sleep. :,
he mystic sort of silence which set = Z
led down was broken by the raucos :,
dice of a sergeant, whose men were =
lcing each other for thrust and parry
xercise. They were not to take part
/ the first rushes of the morning, but
Ding in later in the day to press the
tack ON the third and fourth lines.
nd there was still time to give them
nal advice q
"Come along, come alongl" snapped
he sergeant. Let me see little more Il
urder in them eyes! Get some more
ciousness behind youl Your bloomin' 8.
fe amt no babyi"
He gave much more telling advice than Y
lis. and the drill ceased amid great
Iahing. The correspondent stopped the
rgeant as he came along the road, and
ked: N
"Will your men remember all THAR" 81
mo sir, they won't remember it all" B,
as the frank reply, 'but what they q
} remember will help" CT
81