Features of the Bayonet
To attack with the bayonet effectively requires good direction, strength and quickness, during a state of wild excitement and probable physical exhaustion. The limit of the range of a bayonet is about 5 feet (measured from the opponent's eyes) but more often the killing is at close quarters, at a range of 2 feet or less, when troops are struggling hand to hand in trenches or darkness.
The bayonet is essentially an offensive weapon—go straight at an opponent with the point threatening his throat and deliver the point wherever an opening presents itself. If no opening is obvious, one must be created by beating off the opponents weapon or making a "feint point" in order to make him uncover himself.
Hand to hand fighting with the bayonet is individual, which means that a man must think and act for himself and rely on his own resources and skill; but, as in all games, he must play for his side and not only for himself. In a bayonet assault all ranks go forward to kill or be killed, and only those who have developed skill and strength by constant training will be able to kill.
The spirit of the bayonet must be inculcated into all ranks so that they go forward with that aggressive determination and confidence of superiority born of continual practice, without which a bayonet assault will not be effective.
The technical points of bayonet fighting are extremely few and simple. The essence of bayonet training is continuity of practice.
Method of Carrying out Bayonet Training and Hints to Instructors
An important point to be kept in mind in Bayonet Training is the development of the individual by teaching him to think and act for himself. The simplest means of attaining this end is to make men use their brains and eyes to the fullest extent by carrying out the practices so far as possible, without words of command, i.e., to point at a shifting target as soon as it is stationary, to parry sticks, etc. The class should, whenever possible, work in pairs and act on the principle of "master and teacher." This procedure in itself, develops individuality and confidence. Sharp jerky words of command which tend to make men act mechanically, should be omitted. Rapidity of movement and alertness are taught by competition in fixing and unfixing the bayonet and by other such quickening movements.
As the technique of bayonet fighting is so simple, long detail is quite unnecessary and makes the work monotonous. All instructions should be carried out on common-sense lines. It should seldom be necessary to give the details of a "point" or "parry" more than two or three times, after which the class should acquire the correct positions by practice. For this reason a lesson or daily practice should rarely last more than half an hour. Remember that nothing kills interest so easily as monotony.