BAYONETS THAT BEND.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3600, 14 April 1886, Page 4

BAYONETS THAT BEND.

A "Disgusted Contractor" writes as fol lows. We give his letter for what it ii ■worth, though it is niiauthenticated by th< name or address of the writer: — "Ail wf contractors complain of, Sir, is this sudden obange m the test for the bayonet withoul notice. It is an error to say the implemenl was not tested before. It I was tested, al least I : speak for my own firm. You conic toast -with it, poke it m. the fire, stir th( soap or tea, and; after a fashion* comb tin hair.' We have seen it used as a sboe-hon with the happiest results. It was alsi useful at military funerals— see lines oi burial of Sir John Moore. Now they waul to kill wild Arabs with it as well. Thei should have let ns know, that is all. \V< were given to understand that there wai no 'close quarters' with the modern rifle But to spring a test ou U3 m this way is no fair. Army contractors must live, liki other people; and I assure you. sir, thesi are not the times when a three year's con tract will enable a man to retire and buil< a church. Our business has never recoverec the shock of the Crimean war ; and, for mj part, I would fain leave it at any moment and go into something for the working man Our firm hava long since given up tinne< good3as a profitable branch ; now, 1 suppose ■we are driven out of arms and ammunition The bayonets did very well before thi; business m the Soudan ; we won Inkermani with them, auy way ; and there, remember they had to pierce the Russian frieze coat The fact of the matter is the fault is nu m the bayonet at all, but iv the extra ordinary hardness of hide iv tho averag Arab of the desert. Believe me, sir, thi _natural shield would turn anything ; on goods simply 'buckle' ayaiust it like bicycle on tho twist. The spread of civili ation may soften his cuticle, and I attnc far more importance to that than to anyalisnr attempts to harden tie steel. 'I he difficult was aggravated m the recent engagements b the enemy's indecent way— l will use n other word — of springing on the weapen No bayonet, sir, could stand such a strain and m the final treaty of peace I hor there will be some item of compensate for. wilful damage. Our weapons, air, ai made for Christinu warfare; and for thr purpose, and the domestic uses aforesaiii we are prepared to stake our reputation o them."