T H E SABER

ADMZNZSTRA TION OF BRZGADE POSTS.

HEADQUARTERS

CAMP STOTSENBURG.

PAMPANGA,

P. I., June6, I@. The foregoing memorandum is approved and will govern in the administration of affairs of this command. Any communications that may be issued from time to time modfying or amending the above will be attached to or filed with these papers.

J. M. LEE,

Brigadier Gcneml, I/: S. Arniy, Cotri ma riding.

T H E SABER.

'*Are we thoroughly proficient in its use and is there any room or need HE weapons of the cavalryman in our service are the T carbine, the pistol and the saber. In order to insure proficiency and readiness in the use of the carbine, we have sighting and aiming drills, gallery practice, instruction practice (ball cartridge!, and finally record practice, where the details of the individual records of each shot of each man are made of record and preserved, so that the standing of each man in the organization and of the organization as a whole, are expressed mathematically for present information of those co:icerned in comparing their progress with that of competitors, and for future use as a basis for further improvement. or perhaps as a cause for discharge for disability because of the hopelessness of the soldiers ever being of any use to the government in one of the niost important of all the qualities necessary to make a fighting man. T o further stimulate interest, to encourage effort and to reward success in this most desirable accomplishment, we have the division and army competitions, where medais and prizes are awarded and the results of these competitions, as well as those of the record shooting pi.eviously referred to, of each organization are published in general orders each year. In reference to the pistol a very similar procedure is adopted and carried out. Thus for the two shcoting weapons we have a systematic progressive and detailed course of instruction, culminating in the most important feature of all, a test of ability con-for improvement ? " *

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ducted so as to promote competition, rivalry and a desire to excel, capped with rewards for success. And the results with both these weapons have, wherever the course of instruction was conscientiously carried out by interested and competent officers, been highly satisfactory. We have heard much discussion in the past as to the relative merits of the saber and the pistol, and even a hint or two as to the advisability of doing away with the former; but this is not the question under discussion. We have the saber with us, a distinctive weapon of the cavalry branch, and, whatever the purpose or design of the weapon, whatever the wisdom or folly of its adoption as part of our armament, it must be admitted that a lack of knowledge of the weapon and how to use it is, if true, a serious defect, which cannot be remedied too soon, for the saber in the hands of an uninstructed man is like a razor in the hands of an infant- extremely dangerous. Now I maintain at the outset that our cavalry (by which I mean our average cavalry organizations) is not proficient with the saber; that the average trooper in our service cannot use his saber with the amount of effectiveness he should possess, and control his horse at the same time; that the saber is handled more like a cudgel, held with a death-like grip. with little or no dexterity and suppleness and with little regard, when swinging this three-foot knife from the back of a horse, for the changing center of gravity of the combined animal, man and weapon. In speaking of our *‘average” cavalry organizations, we must, of course. eliminate the troops at Riley, Leavenworth, Myer and Jefferson Barracks, where crack drillery and show is part of the program and where proficiency and even excellence in saber exercises are attained by a great deal of effort, not becausc of the system but in spite of it. I further maintain that, whilst our troopers undoubtedly have the brawn and eye for strongly propelled, accurately aimed blows and correctly directed thrusts, they would in a m6lke be inferior to a foe whose training in suppleness, dexterity and (what are natural accompaniments) speed and But what of the saber? b 588

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agility would enable them to save their strength and win by skill over a useless output of muscular energy. The subject of the use of the saber on horseback (for that is almost its sole use) is so intimately connected with or dependent upon good and proper horsemanship that the discussion of the two must go hand in hand. But before taking up the subject along this line let us see how the course of instruction and practice with the saber, as laid down in our regulations, and as required by orders, compares with the courses and the standards required for the carbine and pistol. First we have in the Drill Regulations, “School of the Soldier,” a “manual of the saber” and a ‘*saber exercise,“ then the “fencing exercise,“ one paragraph on “fencing mounted,” and one paragraph ono1‘ mounted combat.” In the “School of the Trooper” we have “Manual of t h e Saber Mounted.” which adapts the “Manual” and the “Saber Exercise” dismounted to mounted use. Then we have the “Running at Heads” (two paragraphs). Su far so good. T h e foregoing covers t h e ground, but much of it contains some wide generalities. There is no course laid down on which each man i s to be tested and qualified, no , system of scoring, no record of proficiency of each trooper or organization for comparison with other troopers or organizations. no stimulus for each man to excel, no rewards, no prizes no special privileges, and the natural result, no excellence. Can it be, I would ask, that it is thought impracticable to devise a standard test of excellence with this weapon which, when applied to each trooper and organization, will insure throughness of instruction, throw out in bold relief the de. ficient and into corresponding prominence the distinguished, and thns show us where “we are at.” where others “are at,” and possi?dy why we are not somewhere else? In answer to this it may be claimed: First, that it is im. possible to get up a system of scoring for this course; second, that we have enough to do in the cavalry already and that we cannot stand the additional work with its details, reports, paper work, etc.; third,. that the saber is Y

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seldom if ever used, and that we are proficient enough already with the arm for all practical purposes. To the first I would say in rebuttal that a system of scoring is neither impossible nor difficult, as I will endeavor later to show; to the second, that instead of having more work we will have less, for the reason that we will have a definite goaI to work for, which will increase the interest of officers and men. In contrast to this, we have at present a conglomeration of drills in the saber exercise, mounted and dismounted, in order to get in the number of hours required in department orders. I have seen these drills in many troops, which. from a calisthenic point of view were highly successful, nearly every man in the troop with the saber lying limply on the left arm at the “port,” but grasping the gripe with his hand jamb up against the guard, in an embrace so precious and so tenacious that it would seem he had been told that his adversary’s object was to pull the weapon out of his hand by main force, and that only death should ever sepa. rate him from his vice-like grip. With this grip such movements as “right point.” “tierce The instructor meanwhile oblivious or negligent of this error in a first principle, pumps out the commands, and the sabers move promptly and with tremendous force, the imaginary enemy being literally cut to pieces by the beautifully executed cuts, thrusts and parries. In other words we are now drilling in our service with the saber, and at the end of each season we have advanced to the “ne plus ultra” point, having learned the alphabet and the small vocabulary, so to speak, but are unable to express a single idea in a well formed ssntence. Is it any wonder that there is a lack of interest, after repeating this old performance each season! Now we have some work-no results. The plan suggested means more work (perhaps), but surely gratifying results. In the latter case we have a * point.” ‘I right cut” are almost impossible. P

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535 bigger balance to our credit than in the first; would not the latter be better? In answer to the third rejoinder of our being sufficiently proficient with a seldom used weapon, 1 can only say that in time of peace we are preparing for war. W e will not always haye the Filipinos to fight on foot with our carbines alone; we are a world power, and the saber must be more effective in the hands of our cavalry than in the hands of that of any other country, if we are to keep. the American cavalry where it belongs, above all other cavalry in the world. The plan I suggest is as follows, and to be convinced of its impracticability, I must needs see it given a fair, systematic, unbiased trial. X certain number of things to do with a saber to be arranged in consecutive order a fixed distance apart on a straightaway course. The length of the course, therefore. to be definitely known in feet. The runner must make the run and take the objects indicated in the prescribed manner in a given time regulated by a stop watch; and a fixed value being given to each object, a fixed value can be arrived at for his total, and also for the totals of the several runs made. The paraphernalia for thqobjects to be furnished by the Quartermaster’s or other department, to be strong in construction and material, accurate and uniform in dimensions, and to be furnished just as our small arms silhouettes are provided for carbine and pistol ; a season to be set aside for the practice each year, and reports of the scores made to be rendered, showing the work done. Starting from the “scratch,“ fifteen yards in front of where the troopers are lined up, let there be at each fifteen yard point beyond : First. .‘Against infantry, right cut.” X stuffed leather head eight inches high, six inches in diameter, resting on ground in center of a square piece of board eight inches on side. To be taken as indicated. To count 4. Stcond. “Against infantry, left cut.” Same as to right. To count 6. ?

- . . . . 596

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Thi~d. "Quarte point." An iron ring three inches in diameter covered with chamois placed edge across track on a horizontal iron bar bent one and one-half inches away from runner to hold ring, other end of iron bar bent downward ten inches into hole in top of post on right of track to allow full swing of bar, post to be six feet high. Ring to be taken in "quarte point." T o count 2. '' Left cut." Piece of wood of general shape and size of man's head, of soft wood, supported by wooden pin of soft material about three-quarter inch in diameter,. nine inches long; pin to be inserted three inches in bottom of head and sinking three inches into post, leaving three inches exposed, to be cut by sharp edge of runner's saber, head post to be six feet six inches high, placed on left of track. To be taken as indicated. T o count 3. Fzffk. *.Tierce point." same as quarte point. Post to be seven feet high. Sixth. "Right cut." same as *'left cut." Post on right of track. To count I. Sezvnth. '*Against infantry, front point." An iron disk placed upright, edge on ground facing runner. To be knocked down by point of saber. Eighth. '' Saber exercises." This consists in coming to the "carry saber" at the start and finish ; to the port sabber " at the "scratch," and after each object is taken or missed. and after the last object is taken or missed ; also in taking each object in the manner prescribed, and in discharging the rings from the saber in the manner laid down. This is the most important part of the run. for it is a known fact that men most expert with the saber in saber exercise mounted and dismounted will frequently neglect all they know in the excitement of motion with a horse to manage and a material object to attack. Giving to each of these points 9 value of, say one-half, we would have for the entire run. after coming to the "carry saber" at the start : Fmrfh. T o count 2. To count 3. I. Port saber (at the scratch). 2. Against infantry, right cut.

3. Port saber. 4. Against infantry, left cut. k - - 7

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537 I I t

I p I I I C I E R C t r h o QUARTE POINTS P 6 A i Y S T I N F A N T R Y

F R O N T POINT

t 528

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5. Port saber.

6. Quarte point. 7.

8. Portsaber. IO. Port saber. I I. Tierce point. 12.

13. Port saber.

14. Right cut. I 5. Port saber.

16. Against infantry, front point.

17. Port saber.

18. Carry saber. Eighteen points at one-half value for each, to count 9, total value for each run 30. each trooper to have three runs, total possible go. At first thought the points above enumerated for “saber exercise” might seem too numerous and complicated, and in the hurry of a run it might seem hard to note and keep track of them; but the invariable rule of coming to the “port” when not engaged in a thrust, cut or discharge of a ring, would make this lapse at once noticeable. The two discharges of the ring by the moulinet and coming to the ‘‘carry” at the finish are the only other points outside of the motions made at the objects themselves. A s each lapse counts the same against one, it is only necessary to count the lapses as they occur, and one-half of this number is the number of points forfeited. Nine minus this is the number of points to which runner is entitled in “saber exercise.” The reason for using wooden pins and heads instead of leather heads resting directly on the posts, is to insure the runner’s making the: cuts in the horizontal manner prescribed. With the leather head. nine men out of ten will habitually tap it with the saber or cut down vertically at it with more or less awkwardness, depending mostly upon the amount of attention consumed with a fractious horse. Discharge of ring from saber by a moulinet.

9. Left cut. Discharge of ring from saber by a moulinet.

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599 The necessity of discharging the ring with a moulinet is apparent. The cuts and thrusts against infantry have been placed on the ground for the following“ reasons : Heads on posts three feet high can be almost reached by the saber without any derangement of horse or rider, it being merely a matter of judging the speed sufficiently well to drop the saber at proper time. It is a test of horsemanship to cut objects on the ground, and the feat is by no means impossible or even difficult to properly instructed men. This feat being possible, everyone will thereafter be able to reach the objects between that level and three feet high. One object of the mounted saber exercise being to extend the trooper’s sphere of action, both vertically downward and horizontally to right and left, it can be readily seen that his reach from the saddle is extended, and that he is able to strike a long range blow against an antagonist before the said opponent, who knows only how to fight at close quarters in a limited sphere of action, is aware that he can be reached. In this connection I would like to ask any one who has had charge of instruction in this line of work, if troopers do not habitually strike too late at all objects when moving at a full gallop, and how many of the men under your instruction did not, in striking objects on the ground, miss them anywhere from five to ten feet. First, misjudgment of the speed; second, a lack of timely preparation for the blow in the matter of position. In “Against infantry, right cut,” for instance, the trunk of the body must be bent forward so that the shoulders are no higher then the seat in the saddle, left shoulder near and to the right of the horse’s inane, left hand to the left of the horse’smane, pulling right rein taut against horse’sneck to hold him straight and keep him from swerving to the right. The first position of “Against infantry, right cut,” is assumed with the right hand at left of breast, saber pointing in prolongation of the trunk of the body. This makes the saber point almost horizontally to the front. With the weight of the body resting largely in the right stirrup, we . In the latter case this has two causes:

, . 530 ,

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have the preparatory position for striking the object -a position which should be assumed with the eye on the object from ten to fifteen feet before the object is reached. To execute the cut little more then an arm movement is necessary over an arc, with the saber-point only long enough to get sufficient momentum in the saber to deliver the desired force when the object reaches the horse’s feet slightly in front of you. T h e center of revolution is the arm socket at the shoulder and the radius equal to the saber plus the bent arm. The necessary bending of the knees and raising of the feet to properly grip the horse of course belong to the movement. There is no danger, either, in a cut thus delivered, of striking the horse’s hindquarters with the last part of the cut. Much energy, muscular tissue and wind are saved by not throwing the whole trunk of the body pivoted on the but. tocks into the cut; by this last method the point of the saber travels through the air on an arc whose radius is little short of the trunk of the body, plus the saber arm, plus the saber, all revolving around the saddle as a center, and in many cases with the legs chasing wildly in the direction of the horse’s rump around the same point. I do not mean to say that none of the weight of the body should ever be used in the cut described. The point I make is that this is an easy thing for anyone to do, that only so much of this weight should be used as is necessary, that for most instances some of the weight of the body is necessary. and that troopers should be taught to deliver the cut without any body motion. as thus they are taught horsemanship and saber exercise without any danger of their ever in the moment of conflict forgetting how or neglecting to use the little body force required. In the cut to the left, the operation should be somewhat reversed, the bridle hand going to the right, the right hand crossing over above it, the’ saber point in “Against infantry, left cut,” being up near and close to the horse’s head. The legs and the shoulders are the same as in the cut to the right side, substituting “left” for 66right,” the right arm as in drill regulations, elbow bent enough for effective delivery of the blow. .

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531 In ‘*Against infantry, front point,” similar principles are employed as to time of preparation and position of the various parts of the body. In the cut against cavalry to the right and left (especially the latter) the principal fault is lateness of delivery of the blow. This may be obviated in the left cut and still have its position as prescribed in the drill regulations, by bending the right elbow and not carrying the saber.point any further to the right than is necessary for sufficient force in the blow, which brings it obliquely to the right front; a further advantage here is less liability to ’‘nip ’* the horse‘s ears, of which there is more danger in this cut than in any other. T h e body should be lifted lightly in the stirrups in preparing for this blow and the shoulders carried towards and turned to the left, thus permitting a quick, short, arm blow. It is a common error in this blow that the first position is with the saber point straight to the right. arm extended, elbow stiff. Nothing could be further from the spirit of the Drill Regulations. The trooper is not a jumping jack nor an automaton, and the saber exercise is not to be hampered with rigid positions, straight-line geometry nor distances in feet and inches. In order to insure the proper crouched position in the saddle for the cuts and thrusts on the ground, it is thought it will be found beneficial to have all troopers.assume the position in the riding hall or ring and to move them thus at the gallop around the ring. Next, put a good many objects on the ground, and have this exercise practiced in detail by the trooper, As a preliminary to the track course prescribed, after a thorough instruction in the matter of details in the riding at a “carry saber.“ They should next be required to ride the course going through the proper saber motions at each object, no rings or heads being touched, each trooper’s run being finished before the other is commenced ; the instructor taking only a limited number of men at a time, noting errors . I have seen this tried with excellent results. hall, the troopers should ride over the track past the objects f r- '- -

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and pointing them out to each man. requiring proficiency in the Next should come the instruction practice with objects up, the scores being recorded, and this followed by record runs. saber exercise *' before actual practice begins. The following rules will apply to record runs : All heads on the ground, to count for the trooper, must be knbcked off the base on which they rest. All rings must be discharged with the moulinet. downward, the saber point having passed through the ring, otherwise no credit is allowed. Ring knocked off counts nothing. T h e pins supporting the heads must be cut with the edge of the saber; a pin broken with the flat of the saber or a head knocked off by a blow on the head causing the pin to break, counts nothing. The time allowance with a stop watch to be twenty-one seconds from scratch to finish at last object. The gait to be regulation gallop. If the trooper is still on the track at the end of the twenty-one seconds, he will not be given credit for points made after time is struck. If a horse bolts no new run will be given. T h e judge on exercise to be an officer not of the organization running. All troopers making 80 points and over out of go, to be designated '* Expert ;" those making 70 and over and less than 80 to be designated '' Excellent ; " those making 60 and over and less than 7 0 to be designated "Proficient," and a suitable badge or medal awardedeach successful contestant. Several other objects might be inserted as substitutes for for instance, a three-foot hurdle, a five-foot ditch and disks to be fired at to the right and left with the pistol with blank cartridges, the hits to be registered by the powder marks on the white targets of blotting paper or other suitable material. The pistol to be returned and the saber drawn after the pistol firing and before the saber work commences. These objects could not be added to the others which are , any of these designated in the above prescribed course, as 1 1 i i I i Y

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-1 533 sufficiently numerous already, but two courses of five objects each are recommended instead. T o those who have not tried the above scheme and who think it impracticable, I can say that it was tried at Fort DuChesne in 1896. where two teams from each of the two troops stationed there contested for prizes offered. Much interest was shown even with the improvised equipment used, straight twigs being used for the pins prescribed. One of the troopers afterwards won a prize for excellence in a contest of this nature at the Denver athletic games held under the direction of the Department Commander in 1896 or 1897, where contestants from every troop of cavalry in the department took part, and where this trooper won the General's medal for greater all round excellence than any other trooper. ?;or is the scheme above proposed thought to make a trooper a finished sabreur. It is thought, however, to be a most important and indispensable part of the training required. Add to this, or rather preface this by a more thorough course of fencing with the wooden sabers, both mounted and dismounted, and the question of the trooper's ahility is a question merely of his natural aptitude. Every trooper should be at least taught every movement prescribed for both body and weapon in this esercise until it is second nature with him, and then he should be made to fence till he is well proficient or has demonstrated that he cannot become so. With proper instructivn there will be very few in the latter class. In an article in Thr jottmcri of fhc 0: S. Itifaiirry Associu-tioti of July, 1904, on physical culture in the army, Lieutenant Koenler, instructor of gymnastics and physical training at West Point. says : '* It has been proposed to detail a number of specially fitted young officers to West Point from June 15th to September Ist, to receive special instruction which will fit them to take charge of service gymnasiums. This in reference to the gymnasium now a part of our new exchange buildings." "This course of instruction to embrace the practice and theory of (among other things) fencing." He further says :

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Now for every troop of cavalry to be properly instructed in this art requires that at least one officer or a non-commissioned officer, who is going to stay with the troop, should be well up in its fine points. And 'if Lieutenant Koehler's idea is carried out, which is not improbable, why could not the athletic officer of a regiment or a post instruct troop officers and non-commissioned officers upon his return to his command, and in this way introduce the desired knowledge. This with the knowledge brought by young officers joining from West Point should keep the troops well instructed, if the knowledge has been imparted to those needing it. From the letter written by the Military Secretary to the Commanding General, Southwestern Division, on December loth last it would seem that an effort had lately been made by some one in high authority to get more paraphernalia in the shape of plastrons and masks for each troop of cavalry, which could have no other object than improvement in fencing. The letter (copy furnished troop ccmmanders) reads as follows:

WAR

DEPARTMEST,

11. S. 0..

WASHINGTON,

D. C., December 27, 1904. The Coinmandiris GeiiernC Southwestern Divisio)i, Oklahoma City, 0. T. SIR:-Referring to letter of 10th inst. from this office, advising you that the present allowance of eight fencing outfits for each troop of cavalry stationed in the U. S. would be increased to forty, I now have the honor, by direction of the Chief of Staff, to inform you that in view of the espense involved the additional supply will not be provided. Very respectfully (Signed)

F. C. AISS\VOKTH.

The Jfiiiiary Scrretnry. O n every field day once a month at each cavalry post one of the principal events should be fencing contests between teams from each organization and substantial prizes should be offered to successful teams. On the next field day the contestants of the previous month will be ineligible to con-

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535 test. Officers should foster and encourage this exercise, and a strict account of the work done by troop commanders. be required in their monthly reports on the subject, only, however, until all have been thoroughly instructed, when, with the exception of the monthly contests, drill should cease. While the above outlined scheme is thought practical and needful, the writer is aware that it might well, upon close examination, be corrected and improved. It is believed, however, that what has been set forth will be found a good framework upon which to build. That something is needed to improve the cavalryman's use of the saber the writer is convinced, whether it embody a part or any at alldf his own ideas on the subject, and any plan of action which will economize time, accomplish the desired result and do away with the present aimless schedule, woald. I feel sure, be welcomed by inany officers responsible for this branch of instruction in the service. - SoTE.-The above article was found among the accepted material on hand when the present editor took charge of the office. It was evidently written before the passage of the law giving additional rewards in the form oi extra pay for expert riflemen. sharpshooters and marksmen.-[ EDITOR.]