Infantry Drill Regulations, United States Army, 1911 Part 51

Being at _club rifle_, order arms is resumed by command.

The use of this attack against dummies or in fencing is prohibited.

45. The position of _club rifle_ may be taken from any position of the rifle prescribed in the Manual of Arms. It will not be taken in personal combat unless the emergency is such as to preclude the use of the bayonet.

IV. COMBINED MOVEMENTS.

46. The purpose of combined movements is to develop more vigorous attacks and more effective defenses than are obtained by the single movements; to develop skill in pa.s.sing from attack to defense and the reverse. Every movement to the front should be accompanied by an attack, which is increased in effectiveness by the forward movement of the body. Every movement to the rear should ordinarily be accompanied by a parry and should always be followed by an attack. Movements to the right or left may be accompanied by attacks or defenses.

47. Not more than three movements will be used in any combination. The instructor should first indicate the number of movements that are to be combined as _two movements_ or _three movements_. The execution is determined by one command of execution, and the position of guard is taken upon the completion of the last movement only.

EXAMPLES.

_Front pa.s.s and LUNGE._ _Right step and THRUST._ _Left step and low parry RIGHT._ _Rear pa.s.s, parry left and LUNGE._ _Lunge and cut RIGHT._ _Parry right and parry HIGH._ _b.u.t.t strike and cut DOWN._ _Thrust and parry HIGH._ _Parry high and LUNGE._ _Advance, thrust and cut RIGHT._ _Right step, parry left and cut DOWN._ _To the left, b.u.t.t strike and cut DOWN._ _To the right rear, cut down and b.u.t.t STRIKE._

48. Attacks against dummies will be practiced. The approach will be made against the dummies both in quick time and double time.

V. PRACTICAL BAYONET COMBAT.

49. The principles of practical bayonet combat should be taught as far as possible during the progress of instruction in bayonet exercises.

50. The soldier must be continually impressed with the extreme importance of the offensive due to its moral effect. Should an attack fail, it should be followed immediately by another attack before the opponent has an opportunity to a.s.sume the offensive. Keep the opponent on the defensive. If, due to circ.u.mstances, it is necessary to take the defensive, constantly watch for an opportunity to a.s.sume the offensive and take immediate advantage of it.

51. Observe the ground with a view to obtaining the best footing. Time for this will generally be too limited to permit more than a single hasty glance.

52. In personal combat watch the opponent's eyes if they can be plainly seen, and do not fix the eyes on his weapon nor upon the point of your attack. If his eyes can not be plainly seen, as in night attacks, watch the movements of his weapon and of his body.

53. Keep the body well covered and deliver attacks vigorously. The point of the bayonet should always be kept as nearly as possible in the line of attack. The less the rifle is moved upward, downward, to the right, or to the left, the better prepared the soldier is for attack or defense.

54. Constantly watch for a chance to attack the opponent's left hand.

His position of _guard_ will not differ materially from that described in paragraph 24. If his bayonet is without a cutting edge, he will be at a great disadvantage.

55. The b.u.t.t is used for close and sudden attacks. It is particularly useful in riot duty. From the position of port arms a sentry can strike a severe blow with the b.u.t.t of the rifle.

56. Against a man on foot, armed with a sword, be careful that the muzzle of the rifle is not grasped. All the swordsman's energies will be directed toward getting past the bayonet. Attack him with short, stabbing thrusts, and keep him beyond striking distance of his weapon.

57. The adversary may attempt a greater extension in the thrust and lunge by quitting the grasp of his piece with the left hand and advancing the right as far as possible. When this is done, a sharp parry may cause him to lose control of his rifle, leaving him exposed to a counter attack, which should follow promptly.

58. Against odds a small number of men can fight to best advantage by grouping themselves so as to prevent their being attacked from behind.

59. In fighting a mounted man armed with a saber every effort must be made to get on his near or left side, because here his reach is much shorter and his parries much weaker. If not possible to disable such an enemy, attack his horse and then renew the attack on the horseman.

60. In receiving night attacks the a.s.sailant's movements can be best observed from the kneeling or p.r.o.ne position, as his approach generally brings him against the sky line. When he arrives within attacking distance rise quickly and lunge well forward at the middle of his body.

VI. FENCING EXERCISES.

61. Fencing exercises in two lines consist of combinations of thrusts, parries, and foot movements executed at command or at will, the opponent replying with suitable parries and returns.

62. The instructor will inspect the entire fencing equipment before the exercise begins and a.s.sure himself that everything is in such condition as will prevent accidents.

63. The men equip themselves and form in two lines at the order, facing each other, with intervals of about 4 paces between files and a distance of about 2 paces between lines. One line is designated as number 1; the other, number 2. Also as attack and defense.

64. The opponents being at the order facing each other, the instructor commands: _SALUTE_.

Each man, with eyes on his opponent, carries the left hand smartly to the right side, palm of the hand down, thumb and fingers extended and joined, forearm horizontal, forefinger touching the bayonet. (Two.) Drop the arm smartly by the side.

This salute is the fencing salute.

All fencing exercises and all fencing at will between individuals will begin and terminate with the formal courtesy of the fencing salute.

65. After the fencing salute has been rendered the instructor commands: 1. _Fencing exercise_, 2. _GUARD_.

At the command _guard_ each man comes to the position of _guard_, heretofore defined, bayonets crossed, each man's bayonet bearing lightly to the right against the corresponding portion of the opponent's bayonet. This position is known as the _engage_ or _engage right_.

66. Being at the _engage right_: _ENGAGE LEFT_.

The attack drops the point of his bayonet quickly until clear of his opponent's rifle and describes a semicircle with it upward and to the right; bayonets are crossed similarly as in the engaged position, each man's bayonet bearing lightly to the left against the corresponding portion of the opponent's bayonet.

67. Being at _engage left_: _ENGAGE RIGHT_.

The attack quickly drops the point of his bayonet until clear of his opponent's rifle and describes a semicircle with it upward and to the left and _engages_.

68. Being _engaged_: _ENGAGE LEFT AND RIGHT_.

The attack _engages left_ and then immediately _engages right_.

69. Being _engaged left_: _ENGAGE RIGHT AND LEFT_.

The attack _engages right_ and then immediately _engages left_.

70. 1. _Number one, ENGAGE RIGHT (LEFT)_; 2. _Number two, COUNTER_.

Number one executes the movement ordered, as above; number two quickly drops the point of his bayonet and circles it upward to the original position.

71. In all fencing while maintaining the pressure in the engage, a certain freedom of motion of the rifle is allowable, consisting of the play, or up-and-down motion, of one bayonet against the other. This is necessary to prevent the opponent from divining the intended attack.

It also prevents his using the point of contact as a pivot for his a.s.saults. In changing from one engage to the other the movement is controlled by the left hand, the right remaining stationary.

72. After some exercise in _engage_, _engage left_, and _counter_, exercises will be given in the _a.s.saults_.

a.s.sAULTS.

73. The part of the body to be attacked will be designated by name, as head, heck, chest, stomach, legs. No attacks will be made below the knees. The commands are given and the movements for each line are first explained thoroughly by the instructor; the execution begins at the command _a.s.sault_. Number one executes the attack, and number two parries; conversely, at command, number two attacks and number one parries.