94 MAKTTAL FOE NONCOlOnSSIONED OFFICERS. 



and more exposed. The return can be made a continuation of 

 the parry, as there Is no previous warning of its delivery, 

 although it should always be expected. Returns are made 

 without lunging if the adversary can be reached by thrusts 

 01 cuts. 



109. Endeavor to overcome the tendency to make a return 

 without knowing whore it will hit. Making returns blindly is 

 a bad habit and leads to instinctive returns — that is, habitual 

 returns with certain attacks from certain parries — a fault 

 which the skilled opponent will soon discover. 



110. Do not draw the rifle back preparatory to thrusting 

 and lunging. 



111. The purpose of fencing at will is to teach the soldier as 

 many forms of simple, effective attacks and defenses as pos- 

 sible. Complicated and intricate movements should not be 

 attempted. 



HINTS FOR INSTETJCTOKS. 



112. The influence of the instructor is great. He must be 

 master of his weapon, not only to show the various movements 

 but also to lead in the exercises at will. He should stimulate 

 the zeal of the men and arouse pleasure in the work. Officers 

 should qualify themselves as instructors by fencing with each 

 other. 



113. The character of each man, his bodily conformation, 

 and his degree of skill must always be taken into account. 

 When the instructor is demonstrating the combinations, feints, 

 returns, and parries the rapidity of his attack should be regu- 

 hited by the skill of the pupil, and no more force than is nec- 

 essary should be used. If the pupil exposes himself too much 

 in the feints and parries, the instructor will, by an attack, 

 convince him of his error; but if these returns be too swiftly 

 or too strongly made the pupil will become overcautious and 

 the precision of his attack will be impaired. The object is to 

 teach the pupil, not to give exhibitions of superior skill. 



114. Occasionally the instructor should leave himself uncov- 

 ered and fail to parry, in order to teach the pupil to take quick 

 advantage of such opportunities. 



