Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1916 — Fighting a La Bowie. [ARTICLE]

Fighting a La Bowie.

One of the developments of the trench warfare in northern France has been the employment of dirks as weapons for offensive use at close quarters. In narrow traverses and parallels, where there is not room to swing a bayonet-tipped rifle, the tactics of our own Colonel Bowie have been found well adapted to the needs of the moment. There was at first much objection to tie idea among British soldiers, who did not regard it as a “sporting” proposition and stigmatized it as “assassination.” But this first feeling has since been overcome. The problem confronted by the French and British military authorities now is the procurement of an adequate supply of knives and dirks. Most of those on the market have proved too flimsy for the vicious usage demanded in trench fighting. It would j seem as if the hunting knife, widely i known in tbis country, would amply fill the requirements of the case, i For a time the Fench tried a knife : devised for a thrusting blow, held , by a loop handle that passed around I the knuckles; but a few experiments developed that a cutting edge and

some length of blade was necessary as well as a sharp point. The dirks so far used seem to be from six inches to a foot in length. The idea is traceable to the Ghurkas of the Indian Army Corps, whose kukris were employed with savage effect in the few chances the Indians had at the close order fighting they prefer. It is suggested that the dirks should be kept in leather sheaths slung under the soldier’s armpits.—Army and Navy Journal.