Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917 eBook

United States Department of War
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 376 pages of information about Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917.

Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917 eBook

United States Department of War
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 376 pages of information about Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917.

Whenever possible the impetus gained by the turning movement of the body should be thrown into the attack.  In general this will be best accomplished by turning on the ball of the right foot.

These movements constitute a change of front in which the position of guard is resumed at the completion of the movement.

[Illustration:  Par. 29.]

33.  Good judgment of distance is essential.  Accuracy in thrusting and lunging is best attained by practicing these attacks against rings or other convenient openings, about 3 inches in diameter, suitably suspended at desired heights.

34.  The thrust and lunges at rings should first be practiced by endeavoring to hit the opening looked at.  This should be followed by directing the attack against one opening while looking at another.

35.  The soldier should also experience the effect of actual resistance offered to the bayonet and the butt of the rifle in attacks.  This will be taught by practicing attacks against a dummy.

36.  Dummies should be constructed in such a manner as to permit the execution of attacks without injury to the point or edge of the bayonet or to the barrel or stock of the rifle.  A suitable dummy can be made from pieces of rope about 5 feet in length plaited closely together into a cable between 6 and 12 in diameter.  Old rope is preferable.  Bags weighted and stuffed with hay, straw, shavings, etc. are also suitable.

[Illustration:  Par. 36.]

[Illustration:  Par. 33.]

DEFENSES.

37.  In the preliminary drills in the defenses the position of guard is resumed, by command, after each parry.  When the men have become proficient the instructor will cause them to resume the position of guard instantly without command after the execution of each parry.

38. 1. Parry, 2.  RIGHT.

Keeping the right hand in the guard position, move the rifle sharply to the right with the left arm, so that the bayonet point is about 6 inches to the right.

39. 1. Parry, 2.  LEFT.

Move the rifle sharply to the left front with both hands so as to cover the point attacked.

40. 1. Parry, 2.  HIGH.

Raise the rifle with both hands high enough to clear the line of vision, barrel downward, point of the bayonet to the left front.

[Illustration:  Par. 40.]

[Illustration:  Par. 41.]

When necessary to raise the rifle well above the head, it may be supported between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand.  This position will be necessary against attacks from higher elevations, such as men mounted or on top of parapets.

41. 1. Lowparry_, 2.  RIGHT (LEFT).

Carry the point of the bayonet down until it is at the height of the knee, moving the point of the bayonet sufficiently to the right (left) to keep the opponent’s attacks clear of the point threatened.

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Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.