Note 12 — Section II. PREPARATORY INSTRUCTION WITH THE SWORD.

This fact is well known to the Manuel, which says, “Des deux engagements celui de droite par la position de la main a le plus d’application.” It therefore makes all the Cuts and Parries begin from Tierce. This elementary rule is not recognized by the ‘Infantry Sword Exercise’ (p. 32); “your defence is always more effective in the left (Carte) than in the right (Tierce).” Such I assert is the case with the foil and rapier, certainly not with the sabre or broadsword. On horseback the left is of course the weak side.