The bayoneteer has the longer weapon. You have the handier one. You must
therefore use such tactics as will give it the advantage.
On taking guard, keep out of distance, and by feinting, endeavour to
find out whether, if you attack him, he will parry or counter with a
thrust, which some men, relying on the superior length of the rifle and
bayonet, do when attacked.
If you think that the latter is his intention, make false attacks, as
described in page 76, and draw out his thrust, which, having guarded,
return with the greatest rapidity. A counter with a bayonet must be
avoided by every means possible.
Should you see that he is disposed to guard, you may attack him without
much fear of a counter.
You should not attack too often, but rely more upon your guard and quick
return. When, however, you do attack, use the feints very much. Doing so
gives the advantage to the handier weapon.
Your returns, in which the thrust should take a prominent part, must be
made with the greatest rapidity, and the opposition in them, as in the
attacks, strictly maintained, so that he cannot possibly deliver a
remise thrust.
[Illustration: PLATE XXVIII.—HOW TO SEIZE THE RIFLE AFTER PARRYING
PRIME.]
PLATE XXVIII.
HOW TO SEIZE THE RIFLE AFTER PARRYING PRIME.
If you at any time have an opportunity of parrying his thrusts with your
left hand, or of seizing the barrel of his rifle with it, do so. You
must not then struggle and try to get it out of his hands, but must
deliver a cut or thrust as quickly as possible. In an actual combat you
would then have little difficulty in getting his weapon should you want
it.
A good time to attempt this is when, after you have parried prime, he
does not recover quickly to his guard. You should then step forward
quickly with the left foot, and, seizing the rifle, pull it down and
towards you, so that he cannot reverse it to strike you with the butt.
[Illustration: PLATE XXIX.—HOW TO SEIZE THE RIFLE AFTER PARRYING
QUARTE.]
PLATE XXIX.
HOW TO SEIZE THE RIFLE AFTER PARRYING QUARTE.
Or you may sometimes get hold of it after your parry of quarte, when he
is slow in recovering. It will not then be necessary to step forward
with the left foot, as your parry will almost send his weapon into your
left hand.
Some men when thrusting leave go of the rifle with the left hand. When
your adversary does this and you get hold of it, a quick and sudden pull
will draw it out of his other hand, or perhaps pull him on his knees.