The Sword Condemned.
Impending Sweeping Army Changes.
The reign of the sword is over, A board of expert cavalry officers, filled in ut large measure by llie opinions of cavalry leaders at the front, have pronounced the weapon practically usc ess fur warfare, l'or cutting il is re. garded as an absolute failure, Only on very few occasions when a thrust is possible ills at all effective, _ Lord Huberts, who was one of the finest swordsmen of the Indian Army for many years, has decided that for the future the use of the rille must be the first consideration in the training of re cruits of all arms. Jlo has abolished sword, lance, and bayonet exercises, as a part of the soldier's training, and has ordered these " ceremonial" drills arc to give place to musketry and rille prne ices. The cavalry sword will still remain part of the mounted man's equipment, but a lighter one is being experimented will] to take the place of the present pat tern weapon. The glittering scabbard, pride of the horsemen's eyes, but excel lent mark for the hidden sniper, is also doomed, and a leather-covered wooden scabbard is to be issued instead. It has the advantage of beiugtcnounces,lighter and also with it, it is possible to keep the sword sluirn, mid h sharp sword lias been

hitherto almost unl'iown in nctiml warfare. ~„ Jt i»nlso proposed lo mloi»t ut nioilili culiniiofthoHiui Itiownc licll, tho idea being In curry the sword upon llio hod)' ofiluimuu'istcud of on Hu: homo us hitherto,

THE WAIRARAPA DAILY TIMES. SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 7, 1901,

Muted anil published by Josmii Payto.v, journalist, of Mnsterlon,nt Cliurch-slieot llnstci'ton, New Zealand. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7,1801.
