Produced by Tim Lindell, Charlie Howard, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) [Illustration: NEW SYSTEM OF SWORD EXERCISE ] A NEW SYSTEM OF SWORD EXERCISE FOR INFANTRY. BY RICHARD F. BURTON, AUTHOR OF ‘A SYSTEM OF BAYONET EXERCISE’ (1853). LONDON: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, 13, CHARING CROSS. 1876. THESE PAGES ARE DEDICATED (WITH PERMISSION) TO His Royal Highness Field-Marshal the Duke of Cambridge, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY, ETC., ETC., ETC., WHO HAS GRACIOUSLY ENCOURAGED THIS ATTEMPT TO EXTEND THE ‘INFANTRY SWORD EXERCISE,’ BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS’S MOST HUMBLE AND DEVOTED SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS. PAGE Introductory Remarks 11 Sect. I. Preparatory Instruction without the Sword 20 II. Preparatory Instruction with the Sword 26 III. The Manchette, or Fore-arm Play 45 Conclusion 56 Appendix (Note on Sabre handles) 57 [Illustration] A NEW SWORD EXERCISE FOR INFANTRY. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. Before proceeding to develop my New Sword Exercise for Infantry, I would offer a few remarks upon the changes proposed in these pages. Whilst the last half century has witnessed an immense improvement in the projectile weapons of the civilized world, the theory and practice of the sabre or cutting arm have remained _in statu quo ante_; indeed, if there has been any change it is for the worse. The two systems authorized in the British army are completely behind their time. First and senior is the ‘Infantry Sword Exercise’ (with plates): Revised Edition, Adjutant-General’s Office, Horse Guards. London: Printed under the superintendence of H.M. Stationery Office: 1874. The second is the ‘Instructions for the Sword, &c. (without plates), for the use of Cavalry.’ Adjutant-General’s Office, Horse Guards. June, 1871.