THE BAYONET IN ZULULAND

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 513, 19 May 1879, Page 3

THE BAYONET IN ZULULAND

The Times publishes the following letter from " A Sergeant-Major." :-" fflr-We mid that at lsandula 'the bayonet was found to be no match for the shield and assegai. How was that? We have been led to believe that the bayonet has been relied upon to decide every engagement. What then has caused the change? Breech-loaders taking the place of the muajsie-loaders? Not with regard to the case in point, ior it Is stated that the heroic, though luckless, Ist battalion of the 24tb, after having expended all their ammunition— viz , 70 rounds- bad to depend solely upon tho bayonet, which, however, was found to be no match for the shield and assegai of tbe Zulu warrior. How, then, is the falling off in the practical value of the bayonet to b3 accounted for in tbb particular instance? Easily enough, though it does not appear to have been pointed out to the authorities. Now, every soldier who has fired from bis MartiniHenry (or, perhaps, any other breech-loading rifle) only ten rounds, with any approach to rapidity,- knows that the barrel Is then so heated that he is unable to • gra«p his rifle with his left hand round stock and barrel' to bring it to « the charge ;' if so, what could he do after having fired 70 rounds 1 At best he could only hold his rifle with his right hand round ' the small,' and allow the wood under the barrel to rest on Ms left, pinching it as hard as possible to keep it steady; but as to using his bayonet with any hope of effect, tbis is out of the question, for a child could almost knock it out of his hand. I think tbe noble 24th must have been in this unfortunate plight, for undoubtedly they expended their ammunition rapidly against the host of advancing Zulus. It is easy to point out an evil, not so the remedy ; however, the latter in this Case appears simple. Have a concaved thin piece of wood (or other material) about Sin. long, fixed on the barrel between the back-sight and lower hand, not too thick, so as to interfere with its point-blank range : tbis would enable tbe soldier to grasp hfs rifle firmly, however not the barrel, so as to be able to use the bayonet, with all its renowned deadly effect. Were I not confident that the material across the barrel (where tbe hand grasps it) herein advocated is of great importance and urgently needed to be applied at once, I should not have written tbis letter." 27th February.

Messrs. Short and M'Murdo, rival insurance agents, are now in Wanganui busily engaged in " taking lives." An irate but casuistic correspondent of tbe Wanganui Herald wants to know why the peripatetic agents now pestering the good folks of Wangarul are not apprehended, He argues that as the list men on the racecourse were turned off by the police, bo should Means. Short and M'Murdo be cautioned or taken into custody at once. The list men offer, it may be 5 to 1 against a certain horse doing a certain thing, that is, winning a race. Tbe agents in question go to a man and say in effect, we offer you so many pounds to one that you will not die before a certain time. The man becomes a particeps criminu by accepting the offer and depositing his money, and by keeping the bet alive by renewing the deposit quarterly or yearly as arranged. If the man dies he wins the bet, and his survivors take the money; if he lives to a good old age, the Insurance Company win by receiving from the man more money than they guarantee to pay.

A Timely Question.— What o'clock is it ? Suitas to the Sweet.— Bridal trousseauz. When Boys take the Rod Meekly.— At fish-ing-time. For Penny-a-Liners.— A balloon ascent should.always be described in inflated language.