Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/710

BAYONET. weapon of -steel, foiistruoted so that it may be fixed at the end of the rifle-barrel, to whii-li it is attached by a strong spring-clasp, usually se- cured to the block of the foresight. When not so fixed it is carried in a leather scabbard suspend- ed from the waist-belt on the left side of the body. The first bayonets, used in France in 1G71, were known as hayotiets-a-manche, and had han- dles which fitted into the muzzles of the guns; the socket bayonets, or bayonets-a-douille, not being introduced until a later date. These lat- ter permitted the piece to be fired without remov- ing the bayonet. The dagger is said to have been the original bayonet; the musketeer of that day having utilized his dagger as a defense against charging cavalry by fitting the handle of his dagger into the muzzle of his musket. During the gradual evolution of the modern sword-bay- onet, which is now a weapon of offense rather than of defense, many ex]>eriments have been made, in the attempt to introduce various forais of intrenching tools — knives, etc., constructed to serve also as bayonet; but such arrangements are nowhere in general use. The rammers or wiping-rods of the 45-calibre Springfield rifle, still used by many of the State national guards ill the United States, have been sharpened at one end and utilized as bayoneti Many authorities maintain that the bayonet, .together with all other forms of the arme blanche, have become of very little — if comparatively any — impor- tance in modern operations: while others, equally as positive, assert that it still retains decisive value. It is certainly true that long- range and rapid-fire rifles, together with smoke- less powder, often seal the fate of a battle long before the bayonet can be brought into play; but there are still campaigns where the soldier armed with the bayonet has a considerable moral superioritv over his opponent not so armed. The British-Egyptian campaigns of 1882-84 and 1886, the frontier expeditions in India, and the Boer War of 1899-1902 are cases in point. The best tactician in the world cannot always prevent, even with modern firearms, such things as sur- prises; and small bodies of men will still occa- sionally, under practically any conditions, be able to get unperceived into close quarters with their enemy. So long as night attacks are pos- sible, just so long will the bayonet be of prime importance, for it is undoubtedly and invariably the weapon to be used. See Tac5tics, JIilitary; and Infantry.

BAYONNE, ba-yon', Fr. pron. ba'y5n' (Bay city, from Bisc. buia, fcin^/a, harbor, Portug. ha/iia, Engl. bay). A cathedral town, and a fortress of the first class, in the Department of the Basses- Pyrenees, France (Map: France, E 8). It stands 3^2 miles from the Bay of Biscay, at the con- fluence of the Nive and Adour. which rivers di- vide the city into Great and Little Bayonne, with which the Faubourg Saint-Esprit is con- nected by a bridge. The city is cheerful and pleasant, and the valley in which it lies is backed by the foothills "of the Pyrenees. The harbor of Bayonne is safe and commodious, and has three lighthouses at its entrance. The pub- lic institutions consist of a library of over 10,000 volumes, a theological seminary, and a naval school. The cathedral was begun in 1213, and its corbels bear the arms of English princes of the occupation period. The spires are modern (Nineteenth Century). Bayonne has an ex- tensive trade with Spain, Portugal, and South America, and sends masts and ship-timber to Brest and other French ports. Its exports are wine and chocolate and the famous Bayonne hams. Its industries comprise the making of brandy, cream of tartar, leather, linen goods, and the refining of sugar. Glass-houses, anchor foundries, and shipyards are also in active operation at Bayonne. Population, in 1896, 22,200. Bayonne is the ancient Lapurdum, the capital of the Tarbelli, and as early as the Third Century a.d. was a fortress and a com- mercial centre.

BAYONNE, bfi-yon'. A city in Hudson County. N. J., on New York and Newark bays, and on the New Jersey Central Railroad (Map: New Jersey. D 2). It contains the for- mer villages of Centerville, Bergen Point, Bay- onne, and Salterville (Pamrapo). The city has a public library of over 10.300 volumes. Bay- onne is one of the most important manufacturing cities in the State, and contains — in addition to large coal-shipping docks, color-works, chemical- works, boiler-works, copper-refining and nickel- smelting works, and electric launch, insulated wire, and silk factories — the largest plant of the Standard Oil Company, the refineries of which are connected by pipe-lines with New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburg, and other cities. The Hudson County Boulevard passes tlirough the city. Bayonne was separated from Bergen as a township in 1861, was char- tered as a city in 1869, and rcchartered in 1872. The executive power is exercised by a mayor, elected for two years, who appoints the board of health and library trustees, and, with the concurrence of the citv council, the police de- partment and sinking-fund commissioners. All other municipal ofiicials are elected by the people. Population, in 1890, 19,033; in 1900, 32,722.

BAYONNE DECREE'. A decree issued by Napoleon on April 17, 1808, under pretense of helping the United States to enforce the em- bargo of 1807, directing the seizure and sale of all vessels flying the American flag which should subsequently enter the ports of France, Spain, Italy, and the Hanse towns, on the ground that such vessels would either be sailing under false colors or would be violating the laws of the United States and indirectly serving the cause of England. In accordance with this decree it is estimated that France confiscated over 300 American vessels, which she sold for the benefit of her national treasury. See article on the Continental System.

BAYOU, bi'oo (N. Am. Indian hayiih). A stream not fed with springs, but running from one body of water to another, like a canal. Tidal channels in the States on the Gulf of Mex- ico often have the name.

BAYOU STATE. The name popularly given to the State of Mississippi, from the number of small creeks or bayous within its limits. See St.mes, Popri.AR Names of.

BAY PSALM-BOOK. The first book published in the American Colonies, the joint product of Richard Mather, founder of that distinguished family of New England divines, of Thomas Welde, and of John Eliot, the missionary to the Indians. It was printed by Stephen Daye,