Sir, – That is an impressive picture of our Defence Forces cadets’ guard of honour (Alan Betson, March 30th), with Steyr rifles shouldered and fixed bayonets glinting in the sun.
One wonders what is the function of a bayonet on a short rifle in today’s modern infantry.
Are they still used to disembowel the enemy as he storms the parapets?
If not, are they now just for show? And could such a lethal weapon ever be merely decorative? – Yours, etc,
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RODNEY DEVITT,
Sandymount,
Dublin 4.
