Evening star., 1942-02-27
BY HENRY GEMMILL,

yuan 11CO, va, req. Z.-IOl.
Anthony J. D. Biddle, perhaps the
greatest authority on how to kill an
enemy with a bayonet, explained
today that German soldiers snarl all
the time they are lunging with their
weapons-while a United States
Marine will snarl only during the
single instant before he makes his
kill.
Too much snarling is like too
much profanity-it loses its effect,
said Col. Biddle, diving at this re-
porter with a cleaning blade. sharp
as a cactus needle, and giving a
demonstrative roar.
To emphasize his point, he next
ordered an entire battalion to snarl
quickly and to the point, as they
lunged at each other on q dusty
field. fas
...-.s-s.v Secret" Way tosKM.
This is only one Of the vast dis
tinctions between the personal COM
bat methods of American Marines
and the style of all other groups. Col.
Biddle, now 67, but able to tumble
on the ground like a kitten, has
played a historic role In developing
the skills of the leathernecks.
Today he showed the press certain
secret" ways of sudden death, but
gave warning that they must be re-
vealed to no one. The Army hasn't
learned q lot of them, he declared.
He demonstrated even "The Black
Death" queen Of them all, per-
formed with the bare hands. 1t
blinds q man within two seconds
brings death in 16 hours.
Has the Army shown any inter-
est in your Marine tricks?" he was
asked.
"Oh boy, have they" he cried out.
"We won't go into that"
Col. Biddle is a member of the
renowned and capable family of
Philadelphia Biddles. His son,
Anthony, jr, is American Ambas-
sador or minister plenipotentiary to
more than half q dozen refugee
governments in London. The colo
mel was q Marine captain during
the World War, serving in France.
The number of the enemy whom he
killed in hand to-hand combat is
"off the record" he said today.
Has Had Varied Career.
His career has been varied. Al
a youth he lived in the Madeirs
Islands, and after study he wrote
four volumes-the first two titled
simply, 'sThe Madeira Islands" and
the second two called, more warmly
'The Land of Wine"
In the 1905 he also wrote the
'Froggy Fairy Book" and the Sec
ond Froggy Fairy Book"-but by 1887
he had turned to sterner stuff with
publication of do or Die: Military
Manual OF Advanced Science in In.
dividual Combat"
He was founder Of the movement
known as Athletic Christianity.
Three Sources Of Training.
What he teaches the Marines l,
only slightly connected with ath.
letic Christianity, however. 1t Is
derived from three sources:
/. Jiu-jitsu, a typically japanese
art which he describes as Sinking
Pearl -Harbor stuff" It stresses sud-
den, double dealing contortions.
2. Savate, q French art which Il
described in marine publications
as q "punch-and-kick man-killint
technique" In this the feet ART
used more generously than thu
hands.
8. The pagan custom of sword.
play. Col. Biddle went to q Schoo
In Spain when q boy and learnet
how to stab little friends" he says
It was nothing to be out Of class {
week or two badly cut up. Later h
became q distinguished fencer-ant
he has applied all the complicatet
/ moves of this sport to bayonet drill
The results are something far re
| moved from standard Army routine
he maintains.
Holds Bayonet Flat.
In the first place, the blade Is he'll
nat, not vertical. This has man
virtues, including the fact that
your bayonet goes into your oppo
nent'S rib section, you can pull
out again.
| You must bear in mind that tn
4 man who faces you may put you OF
the ground first. You then have ap
nroYimatelv or1e second to 90 into