WARFARE OF MODERN TIMES. 77 



ordinary position of the lance under the right arm, and the manoeuvres 

 with the same, the feet are placed about eighteen inches apart, the right 

 foot a little advanced (figs. 9, 10) ; if the lance is brought over the left 

 arm, however, the left foot is set forwards the same distance. The lance- 

 present, as it is called, is made according to fig. 8, whenever the man exer- 

 cises on foot. The usual position of guard, to which the man must always 

 go back after having delivered a thrust, is with levelled lance. It lies then 

 in equilibrium in the right hand, the queue brought directly under the right 

 shoulder ; the thumb lies above and outward on the right side of the shaft, 

 the knuckles under. To make the thrust, the lance is drawn sharply back 

 with the right arm, the hand turning it at the same time, so that the little 

 finger comes uppermost and the thumb under ; then the right arm thrusts 

 the lance rapidly forwards at the point of aim upon which the eye is fixed, 

 the arm extending itself to the uttermost, but so that the lance remains always 

 under the right shoulder {pi. 28, fig. 10) ; the thumb comes uppermost as 

 before, and the thrust being completed, the position of guard is at once 

 resumed. In every thrust, the upper part of the body must stretch a little. 

 To accustom the pupil to aim correctly, and deliver the thrusts with force, 

 he is made to thrust at a leather ball or ring (fig. 1 V) suspended for that 

 purpose, at first on foot and stationary, and then at all the various paces of 

 the horse. The thrusts are practised in all directions : in thrusts to the rear 

 the lance is turned in such a manner that the point comes behind and the 

 queue in front, but this wheel-like movement of the lance must take place 

 very quickly, that the lancer may return immediately to the position of 

 defence ; all parades (parries) are short blows upon the weapon of the 

 assailant, after which the position of guard is instantly resumed, so as to be 

 in readiness for a new thrust. To whirl the lance (fig. 9) it is swung 

 over the head towards the left hand, so as to lie, with the point directed to 

 the left, in line with the right hand and left upper-arm, the right hand grasp- 

 ing it firmly as before, close in front of the head, the man at the same time 

 turning the head and upper-body in this direction, and then straight to the 

 front. The lance is then swung in the same manner to the right, and 

 brought, with the point to the rear, under the right arm, the head and upper 

 body going at the same time to the left again ; the hand hereby is brought 

 to the front, but leaves this position and is turned, so that the thumb is to 

 the front and right, and the fingers on the outside ; the swinging to the left 

 arm is then repeated, and the lance finally brought back to the position of 

 guard. 



In the combat of lancers with infantry, the bayonets of the latter come 

 into immediate requisition, so that the infantry must be previously trained 

 in all the movements, thrusts, and parries, which can here be employed. 

 Fig. 12 shows the extension and position of guard for the infantry soldier, 

 to which he must always come back as rapidly as possible, whether he has 

 left it for attack or defence. At first, the conflicts between lancers and 

 infantry, divided into systematically arranged lessons, must be practised by 

 word of command, and only after the men are thoroughly trained in these 

 exercises can the counter-thrusting, as it is called, come in practice here 



553 



