Continue to raise rifle almost vertically with right hand; while raising rifle loosen grip of left hand and keep fingertips or palm lightly against rifle right. DO NOT loose contact of rifle with left hand. As you are raising, the rifle needs to be rotated so that the bolt-lever is facing forward and slightly to the right. The left side of the receiver against body; sight and barrel facing right. lifting, left hand should hover near shoulder as a guide and support. Once raised to proper position the left hand should rest near or below the small of the stock; or just above your right. Bolt-lever facing forwards and slightly to the right Image at above-right “l’exercice du fusil” shows illustrates the 2nd motion of “l’Arme sur l’épaule. --L’arme sur l’epaule- droite (continued)-- 3rd Movement (of l’arme sur l’epaule) Drop right hand. Once completed, the position of the rifle should be “twisted” so the bolt-lever faces to the front and right. Angle of rifle is back, and to the man’s left. “Beak” of rifle between first and second fingers. These images illustrate what you need to do. Below- Garde-Drapeau, 3e Zouaves about 1910. Above- Zouaves of an unknown Zouave about 1915 doing marching drill.
Below- Zouave recruits training in Tunisia, 1915. Entire company at l’arme sur l’epaule with amazing amount of precision. --Presentez-Arme (present arms from the right shoulder)— Same position as from l’arme au pied One motion Drop right arm and allow rifle to slide down your shoulder to become vertical- it is never raised or lifted off shoulder. As soon as you begin dropping motion with right arm, smartly bring left hand over to grab rifle between sight and receiver (as described for presentez-arme above). Have both hands on rifle as much as possible. Motion completed, right arm should be fully extended. Left hand near shoulder, rifle tight to body. Left elbow low, left forearm tight against chest. --Reposez Arme (Return)-- Bring rifle back to previous position, l’arme sur l’epaule (right shoulder) in this case. --Reposez Arme (Return)-- Go to l’arme au pied- the order --Formez les faisceaux (Stack arms)-- Stacking is an unceremonious process. It is done properly, but without time or count. Rather than attempt to describe here we’ll simply learn it as a group. However a few remarks would help: It’s done in “fours”. Two files or four men. Nearly all work is done by the even-numbered file. Stack formed men return to the position de l’attention as their stack is formed. --Rompez vos Rang (Break Ranks)-- Men disperse from la faisceaux without ceremony. --Rassemblement (fall in)-- Men rassemble at the faisceaux in their original places. Make sure to place feet against stocks of rifles exactly as they were when forment les faisceaux. --Rompez la fascieux (break the stack, unstack-arms)
--En avant- Marche- Sections marches off par quatre, guide à droite. By fours, guide right. If for any reason the section is still at the order- l’arme au pied- when the command MARCHE is given DON’T panic. The drill manual is prepared for this. On the preparatory command “en avant par quatre” simply raise the rifle slightly as described in other movements from the order. On the command “Marche” step off and bring rifle to l’arme sur l’epaule without being ordered. 4 To halt and form line --HALT-- (Rifles returned to l’arme au pied automatically) --Face à Gauche (face left ; FRONT)-- The 4 files then wheel on the number 4 file (left file). So when marching instruct men to NOT up distance when marching. Room needs to be open for each group to wheel back to position. Otherwise it will be left wheel and then shove left to make room!!! Wheel into and from colume par quatre is not a parade movement and should be done well, but quickly.