As events have proved, however, there has been no more rude awakening for the German soldiery than the efficacy of the bayonet in the hands of Tommy Atkins.  In spite of the employment of gigantic siege guns and their enormous superiority in strength, though not in handling, of artillery, the Germans have failed to keep the Allies at the theoretical safe distance.  They have been forced to accept hand-to-hand fighting, and in every encounter at close quarters there has never been a moment’s doubt as to the result.  They have shriveled up in the presence of the bayonet, and fled in disorder at the first glimpse of naked steel.  It is not that the Germans lack courage.  “They are brave enough,” our soldiers admit with perfect frankness, “but the bayonet terrifies them, and they cry out in agony at the sight of it.”

Admittedly, it requires more than ordinary courage to face a bayonet charge, just as it calls for a high order of valor to use that deadly weapon.  Instances are given of young soldiers experiencing a sinking sensation, a feeling of collapse, at the order “Fix Bayonets!” their hands trembling violently over the task.  But when the bugle sounds the charge, and the wild dash at the enemy’s lines has begun, with the skirl of the pipes to stir up the blood, the nerves stiffen and the hands grip the rifle with grim determination.  “It was his life or mine,” said a young Highlander describing his first battle, “and I ran the bayonet through him.”  There is no time for sentiment, and there can be no thought of chivalry.  Just get the ugly business over and done with as quickly as possible.  One soldier tells what a sense of horror swept over him when his bayonet stuck in his victim, and he had to use all his strength to wrench it out of the body in time to tackle the next man.

Many men describe the effects of the British bayonet charges and the way the Germans—­Uhlans, Guards, and artillerymen—­recoil from them.  “If you go near them with the bayonet they squeal like pigs,” “they beg for mercy on their knees,” “the way they cringe before the bayonet is pitiful”—­such are examples of the hundreds of references to this method of attack.

Private Whittaker, Coldstream Guards, gives a vivid account of the fighting around Compiegne.  “The Germans rushed at us,” he writes, “like a crowd streaming from a Cup-tie at the Crystal Palace.  You could not miss them.  Our bullets plowed into them, but still on they came.  I was well entrenched, and my rifle got so hot I could hardly hold it.  I was wondering if I should have enough bullets, when a pal shouted, ’Up Guards and at ’em.’  The next second he was rolled over with a nasty knock on the shoulder.  When we really did get orders to get at them we made no mistakes, I can tell you.  They cringed at the bayonets.  Those on the left wing tried to get round us.  We yelled like demons, and racing as hard as we could for quite 500 yards we cut up nearly every man who did not run away.”