Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army Part 18

4. A second or third hit in a combined attack will be counted only when the first hit was not called.

5. When it is necessary to stop the contest--for example, because of breaking of weapons or displacement of means of protection--take the position of the order.

6. When it is necessary to suspend the a.s.sault for any cause, it will not be resumed until the adversary is ready and in condition to defend himself.

7. Attacks directed at the crotch are prohibited in fencing.

8. Stepping out of bounds, when established, counts as a hit.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FENCING AT WILL.

=107.= When engaging in an a.s.sault, first study the adversary's position and proceed by false attacks, executed with speed, to discover, if possible, his instinctive parries. In order to draw the adversary out and induce him to expose that part of the body at which the attack is to be made, it is advisable to simulate an attack by a feint and then make the real attack.

=108.= Return attacks should be frequently practiced, as they are difficult to parry, and the opponent is within easier reach and more exposed. The return can be made a continuation of the parry, as there is no previous warning of its delivery, although it should always be expected. Returns are made, without lunging if the adversary can be reached by thrusts or cuts.

=109.= Endeavor to overcome the tendency to make a return without knowing where it will hit. Making returns blindly is a bad habit and leads to instinctive returns--that is, habitual returns with certain attacks from certain parries--a fault which the skilled opponent will soon discover.

=110.= Do not draw the rifle back preparatory to thrusting and lunging.

=111.= The purpose of fencing at will is to teach the soldier as many forms of simple, effective attacks and defenses as possible.

Complicated and intricate movements should not be attempted.

HINTS FOR INSTRUCTORS.

=112.= The influence of the instructor is great. He must be master of his weapon, not only to show the various movements but also to lead in the exercises at will. He should stimulate the zeal of the men and arouse pleasure in the work. Officers should qualify themselves as instructors by fencing with each other.

=113.= The character of each man, his bodily conformation, and his degree of skill must always be taken into account. When the instructor is demonstrating the combinations, feints returns, and parries the rapidity of his attack should be regulated by the skill of the pupil, and no more force than is necessary should be used. If the pupil exposes himself too much in the feints and parries, the instructor will, by an attack, convince him of his error; but if these returns be too swiftly or too strongly made the pupil will become overcautious and the precision of his attack will be impaired. The object is to teach the pupil, not to give exhibitions of superior skill.

=114.= Occasionally the instructor should leave himself uncovered and fail to parry, in order to teach the pupil to take quick advantage of such opportunities.

SUGGESTIONS.

Instruction in bayonet exercise and bayonet fencing should be conducted with a view to teaching the aggressive use of the bayonet.

Unless troops are so thoroughly trained with the bayonet that they believe that with it they are superior to their opponents it will be difficult or impossible to develop that morale which is necessary for a successful a.s.sault. Men should be impressed with the importance of acting always on the offensive in bayonet combat, of pus.h.i.+ng their attack with all their might. Troops which are successful in their first few bayonet encounters will seldom thereafter be called upon to use the bayonet--their opponents will not await the a.s.sault.

LOADINGS AND FIRINGS.

=121.= The commands for loading and firing are the same whether standing, kneeling, or lying down. The firings are always executed at a halt.

The instruction in firing will be preceded by a command for loading.

Loadings are executed in line and skirmish line only.

=122.= Rifles having been ordered loaded are kept loaded without command until the command =unload= or =inspection arms=, fresh clips being inserted when the magazine is exhausted.

=123.= The aiming point or target is carefully pointed out. This may be done before or after announcing the sight setting. Both are indicated before giving the command for firing, but may be omitted when the target appears suddenly and is unmistakable; in such cases the battle sight is used if no sight setting is announced. The troopers must be practiced repeatedly in locating targets, making the appropriate sight settings, and simulating fire on the target indicated.

=124.= The target or aiming point having been designated and the sight setting announced, such designation or announcement need not be repeated until a change of either or both is necessary.

Troops are trained to continue their fire upon the aiming point or target designated and at the sight setting announced until a change is ordered.

=125.= If the men are not already in the position of load, that position is taken at the announcement of the sight setting; if the announcement is omitted, the position is taken at the first command for firing.

=126.= When deployed, the use of the sling as an aid to accurate firing is discretionary with each man.

=127.= The correct estimation of distances is of great importance in connection with all rifle firing except that at short ranges.

Instruction of the recruit in this phase of training must not be delayed until range firing is taken up, but should be begun in the early instruction and carried forward progressively, thus gradually developing the faculties involved. In the same way the occasional firing of a few shots, first with blank cartridges and later with ball cartridges at short range and under conditions permitting very careful detailed supervision of each man's position, will be found of exceptional value as a preliminary exercise to the course of range firing prescribed for recruits. Detailed directions for conducting the instruction of the recruit in estimating distances and in rifle firing are prescribed in the =Small Arms Firing Manual=.

TO LOAD.

=128.= Being in line or skirmish line at halt: 1. =With dummy (blank or ball) cartridges=, 2. =LOAD.=

At the command load each trooper faces half right and carries the right foot to the right, about 1 foot, to such position as will insure the greatest firmness and steadiness of the body, raises or lowers the rifle and drops it into the left hand at the balance, left thumb extended along the stock, muzzle at the height of the breast, and turns the cut-off up. With the right hand he turns and draws the bolt back, takes a loaded clip and inserts the end in the clip slots, places the thumb on the powder s.p.a.ce of the top cartridge, the fingers extending around the rifle and tips resting on the magazine floor plate; forces the cartridges into the magazine by pressing down with the thumb; without removing the clip thrusts the bolt home, turning down the handle; turns the safety lock to the "safe"; and carries the hand to the small of the stock.

A skirmish line may load while moving, the rifles being held as nearly as practicable in the position of load.

If kneeling or sitting, the position of the piece is similar; if kneeling, the left forearm rests on the left thigh; if sitting, the elbows are supported by the knees; if lying down, the left hand steadies and supports the piece at the balance, the toe of the b.u.t.t resting on the ground, the muzzle off the ground.

For reference, these positions (standing, kneeling, and lying down) are designated as that of load. (Figs. 15, 16.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 27, par. 128.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 28, par. 128.]

=129.= For instruction in loading: 1. =Simulate=, 2. =LOAD.=

Executed as above described, except that the cut-off remains "off" and the handling of cartridges is simulated.

The recruits are first taught to simulate loading and firing; after a few lessons dummy cartridges may be used. Later, blank cartridges may be used.

=130.= The rifle may be used as a single loader by turning the magazine "off." The magazine may be filled in whole or in part while "off" or "on" by pressing cartridges singly down and back until they are in the proper place. The use of the rifle as a single loader is, however, to be regarded as exceptional.

TO UNLOAD.

=131.= =UNLOAD.=

Take the position of load, turn the safety lock up and move bolt alternately back and forward until all the cartridges are ejected.

After the last cartridge is ejected the chamber is closed by first thrusting the bolt slightly forward to free it from the stud holding it in place when the chamber is open, pressing the follower down and back to engage it under the bolt, and then thrusting the bolt home; the trigger is pulled. The cartridges are then picked up, cleaned, and returned to the belt, and the rifle is brought to the order.

TO SET THE SIGHT.

=132.= =RANGE, ELEVEN HUNDRED (EIGHT-FIFTY, ETC.), or BATTLE SIGHT.=