Anyone familiar with the Geneva Convention?

[brooks7md]

I've recently learned that triangular bayonets (the type used during the Civil War) are currently banned by the Geneva Convention. Apparently, the triangular wounds are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to sew-up. I've never heard or read any mention of this in my Civil War reading? Have you?

[blue_zouave]

I just scanned through a copy of the Geneva Convention and I can't find any mention of bayonets at all, but I didn't do a close reading. What is your source?

There weren't that many wounds caused by bayonets during the Civil War. The fighting wasn't that close (movies notwithstanding.) Fox's Regimental Losses states that of the approximately 250,000 wounded treated in Union hospitals during the war only 922 were the victims of sabers or bayonets. "And a large proportion of these originated in private quarrels, or were inflicted by camp guards in the discharge of their duty." Wounds inflicted by minie balls were much more common, more damaging, and harder to sew up.

Zou

[johan_steele]

Bayonets are NOT against the Geneva Convention... IIRC there is only one type of bayonet that was ever really listed as a bit ruder than others... a serreted pioneers bayonet from Europe IIRC. Triangular bayonets are no worse than any other, incidently triangular bayonets are no worse than any other... they lack the ability to easily disembowel an opponent which a standard sabre bayonet does not. You'll also hear rumors that the .50 Browning HMG is against the Geneva Convention because it was designed to battle tanks and is now used equally as an Anti personnel weapon. More rumor.

Attempts to list land mines as against the Geneva Convention have also been made. Don't worry, the next step will have War being against the Geneva Convention.

Don't worry about CW items being against the Geneva Convention... the Civil War predates it.

I believe the quote below states the facts quite well.

"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism when the wolf remains of different opinion. W.R. Inge"

[jac]

IIRC correctly, the Geneva Convention is a 20th century document.

[blue_zouave]

Actually, the first Geneva Convention was in 1864. I'm at work now but when I get home I'll try to dig up the particulars.

Zou