The Washington herald., 1917-06-01

level OF an adversary,s throat and q Esn-
eral position OF readiness assumed The
posture OF the lnfantrymen charging
with bayonet is much the same a. that
Of a pugilist He is slightly crouching.
alert In attitude and. above all thingn.
aggressive. Instructors at the camp
place much stress upon the aggressive
ness OF the attack Seldom. they. say. DO
both attacker and defender stand firm
during a bsyonet charge. One line says.
gives and retreats. The cold steel and
the CLINT Of the bayonet Will never cease
to hold terrors for even the snost hard
ened fighters. So. say the army men.
the appearance OF determination. the at
titude OF confidence and aggressiveness
has much 20 DO with the success Of the
bayonet charge.
Use British Manual
The student officers are learning ne
British bsyonet manual. The var has
placed the United States manual out
Of date. II is this new bsyonet manual
that drives home the ruthlessnesa the
cruelty and the cold realisrns OF war.
There must be a fighting spirit-A desire
to hght-before the bayonet can be used
successfully.
There have been several lectures at
the camp upon the use Of the bayonet
and they all emphasize the necessity
for intensive drilling IN this phase Of
conflict, and OF rigorous physical train
Ing as a foundation OF the work
There is no secret attached 70 the
British manual The Germans must
know Il thoroughly by this time There
Is long thrust, a short thrust. an up
ward jsb intended to catch the adver-
sary under the chin, a swing upward Of
the butt OF the rife, straight smash
OF the butt into an enemy's face and
down cut with the blade Of the knife.
There are only two parries-one 70 the
right and one TO the left Defense u
left TO individual initiative.
II you lose your bsyonet you are in
structed 10 throw your hat in your ad-
verssry's face or try to break his arm.
II you get a chance, kick your opponent
or use your fists, say the British on
Gers for it's back 10 the primitive fght-
ing in every case before the work OF
the artillery and the firing line can be
successfully concluded and ground gained.
Most Important Festure.
This bayonet work has been the most
important feature Of the weeks instruc-
tion. There is a something about It which
has made the war seem miles nearer
home. Since the first lesson nearly every
company has taken up boxing for the
training Il offers in aIertness and de-
tense Many OF Ane tlQQenl OuCeTHs Win
more OF less embonpoint, are taking up
notches in their belts al the instruction
progresses The rife and bayonet weigh
about 10 l-2 pounds and the drill becomes
fatiguing in a short time.
Some few candidates have withdrawn
from the camp. feeling themselves tenn
persmentally, mentally or physically un-
nj for the work However, the number
will perhaps not exceed a score.
By the middle OF June the first period
Of the camp will be concluded and the
split made into the different branches OF
the serv1ce-infantry. cavalry, artillery
and coast artillery Candidates for COM
missions in the last-named branch viii
finish their work at Fortress Monroe
Next Friday will see the entire car1-
OF on a short practice march from :
o'clock in the morning to SsS1 A light
pack, belts and rifles will he carri,' g.
This week concludes the work in SEM
phore signaling and the wiE-waE will be
taken up with the Morse interna tOn !
code The speed with which the semi
nhore system has been learned is a tes-
unonial to the Intellectual calibcr ~
the men. and also 20 their serious an-
plication TO their work. MANY Of tho
students are able to send messages r~-
curately at the rate Of 81 letters a min
ute