Bayonets? It's been a long time since I've heard of them being thus employed. I would venture a guess that the Arabs had only guns w/o bayonets. Further, I do not note any mention of "prisoners" taken. Cold steel has a way of inducing panic in the enemy, which I think could easily be the case here.
Hand to hand combat is a way one has to fight in urban settings. Staying put and returning fire gets you into Black Hawk Down situations where you can take fire from all sides. It was charge for sure but probably most of teh killed were shot up close. It takes professional training to fight hand to hand while any joker can aim and shoot from fixed positions.
"Further, I do not note any mention of "prisoners" taken."
"Nine rebels were captured"
Does that count?
Further, I do not note any mention of "prisoners" taken.
“When the fighting ended bodies lay all over the highway — and more were floating in a nearby river. Nine rebels were captured.”
Even if they had them, training in their use, and in countering those used by the enemy, is very unlikely. From all I've read, they can't shoot them worth a hoot, so bayonet training is even less likely. They seem to be best at firing them into the air, preferably one handed. :)