GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR BAYONET TRAINING PRACTICE.
1. “Guard,” “withdrawals,” “thrusts,” “parries,” and the “jab” will be
taught first with the left, then with the right foot forward.
2. The position from which the “short thrust” is made is shown in Plate
IV. All short thrusts will be practised from this position. Except
after a thrust into a dummy, make a momentary pause in this position so
as to break men of the habit of drawing back the rifle from the guard
before making the thrust.
3. From the outset squads will be frequently practised in charging for
short distances in the open as a strengthening exercise for the legs
and a quickening exercise.
4. A target at which to thrust will always be named when working by
word of command; it will be indicated by the position of hand when
working in class and be clearly marked on all dummies.
5. When working in ranks, the distance apart must be sufficient to
avoid all danger of accident when the thrusts are being made. When
thrusts have been made advancing, the ranks will change position by
coming to the high port, doubling past each other right shoulder to
right shoulder and turning about. When working against dummies, men
will always continue the movement past the dummy, which they will leave
on their right.
6. The “withdrawal,” once taught, will be made after each thrust. After
a thrust advancing rear foot or on the advance, the hand will always be
moved up the rifle, but in the first and second practices, since the
arm and body are already stretched to their full extent, and the left
hand cannot move farther forward, the hand will be shifted after the
withdrawal from the long thrust.
[Illustration]
7. All sticks must be padded at one end.
8. In the third practice, the thrusts will also be practised
deliberately and progressively on dummies placed, as a preparation
for the Final Assault Course, in positions of increasing difficulty;
_e.g._, on parapets and steps of shallow trenches, and in fire and
communicating trenches.
9. Scabbards will not be removed from the bayonet except for thrusting
at dummies.