Posted on 06/25/2004 8:31:46 PM PDT by xzins
Also sounds like you stayed in the Knox area. It was my outprocessing point when I retired. Maybe should have stayed there or gone down to Ft Campbell area (Tenn side).
As my telephone wire ran out at this point I left the adjutant there and went forward with a lieutenant and four runners to find the tanks, the whole country was alive with them crawling over trenches and into the woods. It was fine but I could not see my right battalion so went to look for it, in so doing we passed through several town under shell fire but none did more than throw dust on us. I admit that I wanted to duck and probably did at first but soon saw the futility of dodging fate, besides I was the only officer around who had left on his shoulder straps and I had to live up to them. It was much easier than you would think and the feeling, foolish probably, of being admired by the men lying down is a great stimulus.
I walked right along the firing line of one brigade. They were all in shell holes except the general (Douglas Mcarthur) who was standing on a little hill. I joined him and the creeping barrage came along toward us, but it was very thin and not dangerous. I think each one wanted to leave but each hated to say so, so we let it come over us. The infantry were held up at a town so I happened to find some tanks and sent them through it. I walked behind and some boshe surrendered to me. At the next town all but one tank was out of sight, and as the infantry would not go in I got on top of the tank to hearten the driver and we went in, that was most exciting as there were plenty of boshe. We took thirty.
On leaving the town I was still sitting sidewise on top of the tank with my legs hanging down on the left side when all at once I noticed the paint start to chip off the other side. At the same time, I noticed machine guns. I dismounted in haste and got in a shell hole, which was none to large. Every time I started to get out the boshe shot at me. I was on the point of getting scared as I was about a hundred yards ahead of the infantry and all alone in the field. If I went back the infantry would think I was running and there was no reason to go forward alone. Al the time the infernal tank was going on alone as the men had not noticed my hurried departure. At last the bright thought occurred to me that I could move across the front in an oblique direction and not appear to run, yet at the same time get back. This I did, listening for the machine guns with all my ears, and laying down in a great hurry when I heard them. In this manner I hoped to beat the bullets to me. Sometime I will figure the speed of sounds and bullets and see if I was right. It is the only use I know of that math has ever been to me.
For later reading.
Muttly fences.
Broadswords are those giant, 2-handed things bearing virtually no resemblance to an 18th. century sabre, or any edged weapon used in the last 300-400 years. I don't think the guy knows his a$$ from his elbow, but can write, and has the job.
Also, he omitted my favorite legend...that after our future general stood up in the target pit, he took his own pulse, and was dismayed to find it had risen, and went away troubled. Now THAT is training, from the innermost self...a warrior.
The Patton Sabre is essentially a straightened one. The originals were curved, so that like a butcher shop meat slicer, they could strike a passing, cutting blow from horseback, and not just break in half. He must have realized that the days of horse-mounted cavalry sword work were now outmoded by repeating firearms, and the remaining use for the sword was dismounted combat, which entails more point-work, like the traditional, civilian straight sword --the rapier, or epee. BTW, there never was a "using" foil, it was designed only for, well, I can't say "practice," because it does not re;ate to any real weapon. Using foil techniques with a real sword in a real swordfight can and will get a person killed or maimed. This is why many of us cringe and complain when, especially while watching "Pirate" movies, we are disappointed to see our hero prancing around with his left hand up in the air, limp-wristedly saying..."here I am, slice me off"...which is what would immediately happen in the real world.
The practice Sabre is a thrust and cut weapon, that the Patton Sabre most resembles, and I think is intended to be used the way salon sabre fencing is taught and practiced...dismounted, and face to face. The practice sabre is straight, and great emphasis is placed on covering the strong hand with the bell, since it is assumed an opponent will also be armed with a sword, which may not be the case from a mounted position, while riding past the opposition.
Well....time to get back to actually reading the rest of the article.
For those not familiar
Royal 'Rifles' and 'Light Infantry' Sword,
1912 Pattern Cavalry Officer's Dress Sword,
Royal Naval 'Master at Arms' Dress Sword
Highland Officer's Broadsword,
Royal Artillery Officer's Dress Sword,
1897 Pattern Infantry Officer's Dress Sword,
Royal Air Force Officer's Dress Sword.
Found here at: Imperial Sword, London
Now hear this: all posters/lurkers are ordered to see graphic in post #21.
That is all!
I don't know why they called it that, other than it was straight, as broadswords are. So, I suppose this is what the author meant. O.K. This is better. I am still not convinced that they taught its use at West Point...but would like to know...so I opened this can of worms. Personal trademark behavior! I learn a lot though...should I survive.
Yep. Good shootin' goes with the name.
LOLOL. I have a degree in math.
My guess is that it's called a broadsword for little more reason than to preserve a tradition.
Were I to hazard a guess, I'd say that the groove line must be centered and the blade must be bilateral from the center out. Imagine an old broadsword narrowing and narrowing for obvious reasons....and then you have this.
I'd also guess that anything European in the early 1900's was seriously copied here in the ex-colonies.
Got it. Now I perceive the development.
What a great resource FR is...and it's the people who are the best part.
Now back to the article. I hope to finish it this week.
It is clear to me that his view of tanks was identical to his view of swords: advance, go up to the enemy and just kill him, on the spot. No positioning for his surrender, feigning with pinprick attacks, retreats...no, just thunder up and destroy him as suddenly as you can. This is swordsmanship...the spirit of it.
That Claymore-type broadsword is a tank compared to the thin rapiers carried by civilians on the street. I had forgotten they were still called broadswords. It has enough belly to chop and thrust through ribs, whereas the rapier may break if not presented horizontally, to get between them. Civilians' usual concern is single or just a few assailants. Martial users must be prepared for extended combat against heavily armed and protected opponents, and their horses. This sword was probably what Patton trained with, as well as the cavalry saber, and the "broadsword" appealed to him most...more a stabbing weapon...and the Patton Saber was a combination of the two...a natural development, and an excellent idea.
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