BAYONET FENCING. The bayonet is a weapon made entirely for the thrust, consequently it is most effectually used when in the hands of an ex perienced user of the rapier. Of all forms of fenc ing, that with the bayonet is most exclusively t'et curiously enough is only within quite recent times receiving the attention it has so long deserved; at a period. too, when in the opinion of many the opportunities for bayonet contact in actual warfare have been reduced to a mini mum. The old form of bayonet exercise, like the old manual of arms, is now practically a thing of the past, and is being everywhere superseded by bayonet attack and defense practice, in which bayonet it opposed to bayonet, and the modern principles of fence are employed. For gymna sium bayonet fencing, a spring bayonet is em ployed; so that when contact is made in the thrust, the impact forces the bayonet back on its spring. When employed against the sabre, the bayonet is used on the same principle as the foil, except that, owing to its weight and form, only the more simple foil move ments are possible; the two weapons are on fairly equal terms, however, as the sabre, from its weight and shape, is similarly situated. Whatever advantage the bayonet has in length, the sword has in general handiness. A bayoneteer usually engages in tierce or quarte, from which he is enabled to make a straight thrust. a disen gagement, feint a straight thrust and disengage, or feint a disengagement into one line and dis engage into another. The swordsman will parry with prime all straight thrusts and disengage ments received over his blade, and with seconde those received under the blade. A greater variety
of returns are possible, however, if tierce and quarto are employed to meet a thrusting attack at the breast. Against a dismounted swordsman, the bayonet err will seek to keep the former ont side his point, to secure which he will constantly threaten different parts of the swordsman's body and thus keep him on the defensive. On' the other hand, the swordsman will aim to get inside the point of the bayonet, when by seizing the rifle with the left hand he has his opponent at his mercy. Against a mounted swordsman. the bavoneteer will centre his attack on the left or near side of the horseman, and thus shorten the swordsman's reach. If opposed to a lancer (mounted), he will make his attack on the right or lance side, and strive to get inside the point. Manuals of fencing for all fencing •eap and particularly the foils and singlesticks, ore plentiful. One of the best books on the sub ject from the historical point of view is Hutton, The Sword and the Centuries (London and New York, 190t). Consult: Thimm, A CUM plutc Bib liography of Fencing and Duelliny ( London, 1896) ; Czeipek, Die LA:eh/kunst iin Duell (Gratz, 1897) ; Ilergsell, Die Fechtlonnst and Jahrhundcrt (Prague. 1896) Ristow, Dic modern(' l'echtkunsf (Prague, 1896) ; Praktisehe Bajonett-Feehtschule mxiele der Bajonet tir-lor schrift fiir die Infanteric (Berlin, ISSN ; Bay onet .I Clack and Defence (Chatham, England, and Canada).