The two virtues of the Cut are its trueness and its velocity. Unless true it will become a blow with the flat that would shiver to pieces any brittle Eastern blade. Assuming the _vis viva_ or force of a moving body to be its weight multiplied by the square of the velocity, let us suppose a strong man cutting with a sword weighing 4 lbs., to which he can give a velocity which we will call 1, or 4 × 1 = 4: a weaker man who applies double the velocity to a 2 lb. sword will thus produce a momentum of 8, doubling the force of the blow. But let the stronger man take the lighter sword, evidently he will obtain a higher velocity, which we will assume at 3: in this case the effect will be 18. Thus the power of the Cut is enormously increased by increased velocity, but much less by increased weight in the moving body. § 3. _The Cuts._ The Target prefixed to the ‘Infantry Sword Exercise’ gives Seven Cuts, an insufficient number. The German systems add an eighth blow perpendicularly upwards, when the whole of the swordsman’s arm from wrist to shoulder would be completely at the opponent’s mercy. The French _Manuel_ has only seven, viz. the _Coup de Tête_; 2, the _Coup de Banderole_; 3, the _Coup de Figure à droite_; 4, the _Coup de Figure à gauche_; 5, the _Coup de Flanc_; 6, the _Coup de Ventre_; and 7, the _Coup de Manchette_. [Illustration: German System.] The subjoined diagram shows the Twelve Cuts[11] which serve to “loosen” the rigid arm of the recruit. [Illustration: The Twelve Cuts (shown by the thick strokes), the dotted lines denoting the course of the blade in “Moulinet”, or rather in “Semi-Moulinet.” CARTE. TIERCE. Cut 1. Cut 2 (Head Cuts). Cut 3. Cut 4 (Face Cuts). Cut 5. Cut 6 (Shoulder Cuts). Cut 7. Cut 8 (Breast Cuts). Cut 9. Cut 10 (Stomach Cuts). Cut 11. Cut 12 (Groin and Thigh Cuts). ] The figure represents the opponent; the thick lines show the direction of the edge when cutting; and the dotted continuations denote the course of the blade when describing the several “Moulinets.”