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Show SCIMITAR AND SPEAR. Evidently the Abyssinians would not make, the best of soldiers if put into the trenches, but they are some fighters out in the open with the weapons of their forefathers. It is related that in the decisive battle for tho throne and crown of the late King JJenelik the soldiers, weary of shooting their rifles at long range, resorted to the scimitar and spear and mixed with the enemy in the good old way. The casualties were very heavy considering the number of men on tho field, but the survivors have the satisfaction of knowing that they engaged in a hand-to-hand fight instead of being compelled to dodge shells from big guns placed miles away. We dare say a large majority of the men now in the trenches on all the battle fronts would rather settle the war with bayonet bayo-net and saber than with heavy field artillery, ar-tillery, and.it may be that if a breach in the lines is ouce made the final battles of the great struggle will be fought on the open plains, where it will be possible to charge and counter charge and use the cold steel after the fashion of the Abyssinians and, indeed, the soldiers of all former wars. |