Parries will be practised with right, as well as with the left, foot forward, preparatory to the practice of parrying when advancing. First Practice: Men learning the parries should be made to observe the movements of the rifle carefully, and should not be kept longer at this practice than is necessary for them to understand what is required--that is, vigorous yet controlled action. Second Practice: The class works in pairs with scabbards on the bayonets, one man thrusting with a stick and the other parrying; the guard is resumed after each parry. At first, this practice must be slow and deliberate, without being allowed to become mechanical, and will be progressively increased in rapidity and vigor. Later a thrust at that part of the body indicated by the opposite man’s hand should immediately follow the parry, and, finally, sticks long enough to represent the opponent’s weapon in the position of guard should be attached to the dummies and parried before delivering the thrust. The men must be taught also to parry thrusts made at them: (1) by an opponent in a trench, when they are themselves on the parapet; (2) by an opponent on the parapet, when they are in the trench; and (3) when both are on the same level fighting at close quarters in a deep trench. LESSON III. TO EXECUTE THE SHORT THRUST. Shift the left hand quickly towards the muzzle and draw the rifle back to the full extent of the right arm, the butt either upwards or downwards as a low or a high thrust is to be made, then deliver the thrust vigorously to the full extent of the left arm. The short thrust is used at a range of about three feet, and, in close fighting, it is the natural thrust to make when the bayonet has just been withdrawn after a long thrust. If a strong withdrawal is necessary, the right hand should be slipped above the rear sight after the short thrust has been made. Practice: [Illustration: PLATE IV.--“SHORT THRUST.”] The principles of the three practices of Lesson I should be observed so far as they apply. By placing two discs on a dummy, the short thrust should be taught in conjunction with the long thrust, the first disc being transfixed with the latter, the second disc with the former. On delivery of the long thrust, if the left foot is forward, the short thrust would take place with the right foot forward, and _vice versa_. [Illustration: PLATE V.--“JAB.”] Parries will be practised from the position of the short thrust. LESSON IV. THE JAB OR UPWARD THRUST. From the position of short thrust shift the right hand up the rifle and grasp it above the rear sight, at same time bringing the rifle to an almost vertical position close to the body, and, from this position, bend the knees and jab the point of the bayonet upwards into the throat or under the chin of the opponent. COMMON FAULTS. 1. Rifle drawn backward and not held vertically enough. 2. Rifle grasped too low with the right hand.