Rifle School
The following is taken from the Manuel du Chef de Section d'Infanterie ("The Manual of the Infantry Section Leader") dated January 1918. However, the commands covered in this section remained essentially unchanged from those practiced in 1914.
FIRING COMMANDS
CHARGER ET DÉCHARGER
("Loading and Unloading")CHARGEZ.
1. In the standing position:
Stop, if walking, present the weapon. Bring the weapon down with both hands, the right hand grasping the small of the stock, thumb crossing over it, make a half right turn on the left heel and move about a half step back and to the right, according to the size of the man, with the point of the right foot slightly retracted. Pass the left hand between the weapon and the sling, the thumb elongated in the recess on the left side of the stock, the ends of the fingers in the recess on the right side, the left elbow pressed to the body, the butt held between the body and the right forearm, the end of the barrel at the height of the shoulder.1. In the kneeling position:
Bring the weapon down with both hands, pass the left hand between the weapon and the sling, the thumb elongated in the recess on the left side of the stock, the ends of the fingers in the recess on the right side, the left forearm resting on the left thigh, the butt plate on the right thigh below the cartridge belt.2. Next, in either position:
Grasp the bolt with the right hand between the two first fingers folded, thumb on top, the two other fingers closed. Arm the weapon by turning the bolt from right to left, bringing it back sharply, the elbow sliding along the butt, and grasping the cartridge by the body of the casing. Place the cartridge in the breech, the bullet forward. Quickly push the bolt forward while at the same closing it completely. Grasp the weapon at the small of the stock with the right hand, the index finger lying elongated on the trigger guard.
DÉCHARGEZ.
Perform, if necessary, the first movements of CHARGEZ.Slide your left hand under the bolt box, the fingers and joints elongated along it. Open the breech, extract the cartridge by grasping it between the thumb and the first finger, place it back in the cartridge pouch, close the breech.
To disarm the weapon: grasp the weapon by the small of the stock with the right hand, the thumb being placed across the dog, squeeze the trigger, carefully move the dog down by holding with the thumb and then replacing the right hand at the small of the stock.
APPROVISIONNER ET DÉPROVISIONNEZ
("Supplying and Unsupplying [the magazine]")APPROVISIONNEZ.
Perform, if necessary, the first movements of CHARGEZ.Return the trough button to its rear position with the thumb of the right hand. Open the breech, bringing it back sharply, find the entrance of the magazine by lowering the front part of the trough with the index finger. Grasp a cartridge by the body of the casing, place it in the breech. Introduce it into the magazine and pushing it past the tube-stop with your thumb or forefinger. Take another cartridge and continue as just prescribed until the magazine contains eight cartridges. Return the trough button to its earlier position, close the bolt, disarm and grab the weapon at the small of the stock with the right hand.
DÉPPROVISIONEZ.
Perform, if necessary, the first movements of CHARGEZ.Return the trough button to its rear position, open the bolt, bringing it back sharply, then push it forward to introduce the cartridge into the barrel, completely closing the bolt. Slide your left hand under the breech box, fingers and joints elongated along the breech, open the bolt, extract the cartridge grabbing it between the thumb and index finger and placing it back in the cartridge pouch. Lightly push the bolt forward, bringing it back sharply to raise the trough. Close the bolt in order to introduce the new cartridge in the barrel and continue on as just described until no cartridges remain in the magazine. Ensure it is empty by glancing into the breech to check if the piston collar appears at the opening of the tube-stop, bring back the trough button to its forward position. Close the bolt; disarm and grab the weapon at the small of the stock with the right hand.
Return the weapon to rest position after the firing movements.
FEUX
("Firing")Fire At Will
FEU À VOLONTÉ.
À (xx) MÈTRES,
SUR (xx):
COMMENCEZ LE FEU.
("Fire at will.
At [xx] meters,
On [a certain point]:
Commence firing.")
On the first command, load the weapon if necessary. On the second command, set the sight according to the distance prescribed. On the third command, look at the point indicated, keeping the eyes fixed on it. On the last command, open fire until instructed to stop.
Fire (xx) Rounds/Clips
FEU DE (xx) CARTOUCHES/CHARGEURS.
À (xx) MÈTRES,
SUR (xx):
COMMENCEZ LE FEU.
("Fire [xx] rounds/clips.
At [xx] meters,
On [a certain point]:
Commence firing.")
The soldier fires a prescribed number of rounds or clips (depending on the type of rifle being used).On the first command, load the weapon if necessary. On the second command, set the sight according to the distance prescribed. On the third command, look at the point indicated, keeping the eyes fixed on it. On the last command, open fire and continue doing so until the prescribed number of rounds or clips have been fired. Once the prescribed number has been fired, continuing to fire, loading one shot at a time until ordered to cease fire.
Fire By Repetition
FEU À RÉPÉTITION.
À (xx) MÈTRES,
SUR (xx):
COMMENCEZ LE FEU.
("Fire by repetition.
At [xx] meters,
On [a certain point]:
Commence firing.")
The soldier fires a prescribed number of rounds or clips (depending on the type of rifle being used).On the first command, quickly bring back the "squared" button to its back position, then close it again, pushing up the lever completely to the right. On the second command, set the sight according to the distance prescribed. On the third command, look at the point indicated, keeping the eyes fixed on it. On the last command, open fire and continue doing so without cease until the magazine is empty. Once the magazine has been emptied, bring back the "squared" button to its forward position, continuing to fire, loading one shot at a time until ordered to cease fire.
Fire By Salvoes
FEU PAR SALVES.
À (xx) MÈTRES,
SUR (xx),
JOUE,
COMMENCEZ LE FEU.
("Fire by vollies.
At [xx] meters,
On [a certain point],
Aim,
Commence firing.")
On the first three commands, load, set the sight and look at the point indicated. On the command of JOUE, aim the weapon. On the last command, fire the weapon once, reload and then wait for the new command of JOUE. The command to fire again will be FEU.
CESSER ET REPRENDRE LE FEU
("Ceasing and Restarting Fire")CESSEZ LE FEU.
When the command is give, the soldier repeats the command to his neighbors and then ceases fire. If armed with the Lebel rifle, unload if necessary without disarming. If armed with the Berthier rifle, reload if necessary and put the weapon on safety by moving the safety lever into its correct position.
Restarting fire is done by the following commands:
À VOLONTÉ, À RÉPÉTITION, (xx) CARTOUCHES/CHARGEURS, PAR SALVES.
COMMENCEZ LE FEU.
The relative commands regarding the adjustment of the sight and taking note of the indicated point are only done upon restarting fire if it is necessary to change the sight or the point being aimed at. If armed with the Lebel rifle, when the command to "Cease Fire" is given during a "fire by repetition," refill the magazine and, before loading, set the "squared" button back to its forward position. If armed with the Berthier rifle, and if the command to "Cease Fire" is followed by that of DÉCHARGEZ, extract the clip and eject the round that is in the chamber. Place the loose rounds that are available in the incomplete clips.
French Glossary of Weapons Parts:
Le Lévier = bolt
La Culasse = breech
La Hausse = sight
Le Canon = barrel/muzzle
La Bouche de Canon = muzzle
Le Auget = trough
Le Store = magazine
Le Fût = stock
L' Échancrure = Breech (chamber)
Le Bouton Quadrillé = trough button
La Poignée = small of the stock (handle)
