THE SWORD CONDEMNED.

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 August 1901, Page 2

THE SWORD CONDEMNED.

IMPENDING SWEEPING- ARMY

CHANGES.

The reign of the sword is over. A board of expert cavalry officers, guided in a large measure by the opinions o£ cavalry leaders at the front, have pronounced the weapon practically useless for warfare. For cutting1 it is regarded as an absolute failure. Only on the very fewoccasions when a thrust is possible is ife, at all effective. Lord Roberts, who was one of the finest; srvrordsmen of the Indian Army for manyyears, has decided that for the future theuse of the rifle must be the first consideration, in the training of recruits of all arms.. Be has abolished sword, lance, and bayonet exercises as a part of the soldier's training, and has ordered that these "ceremonial" drills are to give place to musketry and! rifle practices. The cavalry sword will still remain parfr. of the mounted man's equipment, but *, lighter one is being experimented witfo to take the place of the present pattern! weapon. The. glittering scabbard, pride of the horseman's eye, but excellent mark for the hidden sniper, is also doomed, and a leather-covered wooden scabbard is to be issued instead. It has the advantage of being ten ounces lighter, and also with lit it is possible to keep the sword sharp, and a sharp sword has hitherto been almost unknown in actual warfare. It is also proposed to adopt a modification of the Sam Browne belt, the idea being to cany the sword upon the body of the man instead of on the horse as hitherto. ,