Course: 1. Slow Fire.—10 yards. Minimum of one maximum of five scores.

2. Quick Fire.—10 yards. Minimum of one maximum of three scores.

3. Automatic Fire.—10 yards. Minimum of one maximum of three scores.

4. Trench Fire.—Minimum of one maximum of three scores.

Bayonet Training.

  1. The Functions Of Bayonet Training Are:
    1. To teach the correct use of the bayonet until it becomes instinctive.
    2. To develop the fighting spirit.
    3. To develop speed, accuracy, and coördination.
  2. General Principles:
    1. Fencing, in modern combat, is out of the question. Almost every fight will consist of but one or two motions. Hence the class must be taught that the best defence is the quickest offensive.
    2. Every available means of offence, with hands and feet as well as with rifle and bayonet, is a part of bayonet training.
    3. Teamwork is essential. Men must be taught, especially in the combat, to exercise, to seize every opportunity to act together.
    4. Personal control during combat, especially at night, will be nearly impossible. Control should be practiced, therefore, in the form of clear instructions delivered to the men before assault, and fulfilled individually.
    5. In every assault and combat exercise, the men must be taught never to leave an enemy alive, or who may be alive, behind them.
  3. Technique Of Bayonet Combat:
    1. The point is the main reliance. Its use should be practiced in every possible situation, until a correct choice or combination of long point, short point, and jab, and the execution thereof, becomes a matter of instinct.
    2. The point must always be directed at a definite target. The most vulnerable points of the body are: Lower abdomen, base of the neck, small of the back (on either side of the spine), chest, and thighs. Bony parts of the trunk must be avoided by accurate aim.
    3. The use of the rifle as a club, swinging or striking, is valuable only:
      1. When the point is not available.
      2. In sudden encounters at close quarters, when a sharp butt swing to the crotch may catch an opponent unguarded.
      3. After parrying a swinging butt blow, when a butt strike to the jaw is often the quickest possible riposte.
    4. The use of butt swings overhead or sidewise to the head or neck, is to be avoided; they are slow, inaccurate, easily parried or side-stepped, and leave the whole body unguarded. After every butt blow a thrust must immediately follow, since no butt blow, of itself, is apt to be fatal.
    5. The parries must be regarded and practiced chiefly as means of opening the opponent's guard; hence, a thrust must immediately follow each parry.
    6. The foot movements shown in the old manual are useful only to promote quickness and steadiness. They should, therefore, be practiced in combination with the points and butt blows, and so combined can be executed in the oblique directions as well as at right angles. The left foot moves in the direction of the thrust.
  4. Manual Of The Bayonet: There are only 7 exercises to learn in the new bayonet drill:
    1. Guard.—Point of the bayonet directed at the opponent's throat, the rifle held easily and naturally with both hands, barrel inclined slightly to the left, right hand at the height of the navel and grasping the small of the stock, left hand holding the rifle at a convenient position above the lower band, so that the left arm is slightly bent, making an angle of about 150 degrees. The legs should be well separated and in an easy position. Lean forward, on your toes, left knee slightly bent, right foot flat on the ground and turned to the right front. Remember in this position to have your eye on your opponent, do not restrain your muscles, keep them taut, but flexible.
    2. "High Port."—The hands hold the rifle as in guard; the left wrist level with, and directly in front of the left shoulder; the right hand above the right groin and on level with the navel.
      Remember that the barrel in this position is to the rear. This position is assumed on the advance without command.
    3. "Long Point."—Being in the position of "guard," grasp the rifle firmly, vigorously deliver the point to the full extent of the left arm, butt along side and close to the right forearm; body inclined forward; left knee well bent, right leg braced, and weight of the body pressed well forward with the fore part of the right foot, heel raised. The right hand gives the power to the point, while the left guides it. If a point is made in the oblique direction the left foot should move in that direction. This exercise is done in 3 counts. At 1 the point is made; at 2, the withdrawal; at 3, resume the guard. The withdrawal must be straight back, and not with the downward motion, until the right hand is well behind the hip.
    4. Right (Left) Parry.—1. Straighten the left arm, without bending the wrist or twisting the rifle in the hand, and force the rifle forward far enough to the right (left) to ward off the opponent's weapon, 2. Resume "guard."
      Remember to keep your eyes on the weapon to be parried.
    5. Short Point.—1. Shift the left hand quickly toward the muzzle and draw the rifle back to the full extent of the right arm, butt either high or low as a low or high point is to be made. 2. Deliver the point vigorously to the full extent of the left arm. 3. Withdrawal. 4. Resume the "guard."
    6. Jab Point.—1. Shift the left hand quickly toward the muzzle, draw the rifle back, and shift the right hand up the rifle and grasp it above the rear sight, at the same time bringing the rifle to an almost vertical position close to the body. Bend the knees. 2. Straighten the knees, jab the point of the bayonet upward into the throat or under the chin of the opponent—chiefly by a body movement. 3. Withdrawal. 4. Carry the rifle forward with the left hand, grasping the small of the stock with the right. 5. Resume guard. Remember in the first motion to have the hands at least 4 inches apart.
    7. Butt swing—butt strike—out.—1. Swing the butt up at the opponent's ribs, forearms, etc., using a full arm blow, bringing the rifle to a horizontal position over the left shoulder, butt to the front. 2. Advance the rear foot, and dash the butt into the opponent's face. 3. Advance the rear foot and at the same time slash the bayonet down on the opponent's head or neck. 4. Resume the "guard."
      (The easiest guard to a swing at the crotch is simply to get the left knee in the opponent's right.)
  5. Progressive Exercises:
    1. The class works in pairs with scabbards on bayonets. One man alternately in each pair signals; the other promptly executes the movement, at the target, designated by the signal. The following signals are suggested:
      1. The hand, placed against the body, indicates the target.
      2. Long point—Back of hand outward.
      3. Short point—Palm of hand outward.
      4. Jab point—Hand horizontal against chin, palm down.
      5. High port—Fist against left breast.
      6. Parry right (left)—Hand waved to right (left).
      7. Butt swing—Fist against crotch.
      8. Butt strike—Fist against jaw.
    2. Instead of signals, thrusting sticks are then used. These are strong wands having a padding of paper and burlap over one end and a rope ring tied to the other. Points and butt swings are executed at the padding and rings, respectively, as these are presented. The man holding the stick must remember to stand to one side of the man with the bayonet.
    3. As In First Exercise.—One man thrusts with a stick: the other parries.
    4. Thrusts Are Practiced At Dummies, first from a distance of five feet, then by advancing two paces or more. To simulate fighting conditions, a frame is then arranged in which dummies are slung on ropes passed over pullies, and so manipulated that as the man withdraws his bayonet from one dummy another swings at, him from a different direction.
      1. A course is laid out as follows:
        1. A fire trench about 60 yards long, well revetted.
        2. 20 yards in front of the trench, smooth wire entanglements.
        3. 15 yards further, another trench, parallel to the first, 60 yards long, 4 feet deep and 4 feet wide. In this trench prone dummies are placed, one per yard.
        4. 15 yards further, 60 dummies, hung on frames, parallel to the trenches.
        5. 15 yards further, a hurdle 4 feet high and 60 yards long, parallel to the trenches.
        6. 10 yards further, a low trip wire, stretched parallel to the trenches.
        7. 10 yards further, 60 dummies, hung on frames, parallel to the trenches.
        8. 15 yards further, a large trench, 60 yards long, 6 feet deep, 10 feet wide, containing 60 prone dummies, 1 per yard.
      2. Procedure:
        Each platoon, in turn, enters the first trench at skirmish intervals, bayonets fixed. On signal, all move out at a walk, guiding carefully in line on a leader previously designated. After passing each obstacle, the line is again carefully formed. On each of the swinging dummies one of the seven movements of the manual is used; a long or short point is used on each prone dummy. All go down into the last trench together, with a good loud yell, point of the bayonet level with the toe, and land on the dummies in the bottom, stabbing as they land. This course should be repeated several times at quick time, then at double time, and finally at a run. Remember that in the advance the rifle is carried at high port.
    5. As Soon As Proficiency Has Been Gained in the above exercises, the assault practice is taken up.
      1. Equipment for each man:
        1. Thrusting stick or other wooden rod with wooden ball or thick padding covering one end. (Old rifles with spring-bayonets are even better.)
        2. Plastron.
        3. Baseball mask.
        4. Pair of broadsword or single stick gloves.
      2. Procedure:
        The class is formed in two lines of about equal numbers, facing each other, about fifty paces apart, with intervals in each line of about two paces. A leader is designated for each line. The instructor stands at one end of the space between; an assistant at the other end. On the instructor's whistle, the lines advance, guiding carefully on their leaders. When about ten paces apart, they charge, each seeking to break and roll up the opposing line. Sticks are carried and used as rifles with bayonets fixed. Any other use disqualifies. Use of the butt is barred. One thrust on the plastron or mask, or two hits on the extremities, disables the recipient, who must promptly retire—or be retired. The combat continues until the second whistle, blown not more than 30 seconds after contact; when they cease fighting promptly, separate, and form as before.
      3. Criticism:
        After each combat, the instructor will criticize the manner of advance and of fighting, especially the alignment kept in the advance and the team work in combat, and the advantage taken of opponents' mistakes. He counts the casualties and awards the decision. He must continually urge the men never to lag behind nor advance ahead of the line, never to allow large gaps to occur in the line, and always to seize the advantage given by opponents who disregard these principles.
      4. The terrain for this exercise should be frequently varied. It may also be conducted at night, the opposing sides being clearly distinguished. [[Q]]
    6. Combat Exercises (to be used in conjunction with the assault practice):

[Q] The last exercise was devised and perfected by M. Jules Leslabay, Master of Fencing, Harvard R.O.T.C., 1917. It is more completely described in his "Manual of Bayonet Training."

Machine Guns.

1. Properties of the machine guns are divided into three general classes: Mode of action, fire, and inconspicuousness.