[Bêthberry]

I believe our estimable The Squatter has it correct that Napoleon made such an observation, no doubt based upon his own predilections during battle.

However, this did not hinder the little Frenchman from buying army boots from the English, even during war time. How the English mercantile class missed this opportunity to aid the war effort and deliver substandard boots instead of their superior boots is probably a strategic debate related more to late Seventh Age military tactics than early Seventh Age. However, it does raise another aspect of Hobbit nature.

Hobbits, of course, gambolled, walked, ran, danced and marched shoesless. Think of the great costs saved in not having to import boots and buy them at a premium price from an enemy! The usual ills and infections normally associated with footware would also be lessened by this airy habit, although I suppose there might be the added difficulty of dealing with body lice in hairy feet.

I think there would indeed be room for them in the basic infantry, where the added benefit of their short stature would enable hobbits to run easily between the tall hulks of orc bodies.

(I do hope this particularly detailed reply does not offend our usual Downs Syndrome of decorum and I apologise prolylactically for any offense some may feel at these thoughts.)