At the command READY turn the safety lock to the “ready”; at the command AIM raise the piece with both hands and support the butt firmly against the hollow of the right shoulder, right thumb clasping the stock, barrel horizontal, left elbow well under the piece, right elbow as high as the shoulder; incline the head slightly forward and a little to the right, cheek against the stock, left eye closed, right eye looking through the notch of the rear sight so as to perceive the object aimed at, second joint of forefinger resting lightly against the front of the trigger and taking up the slack; top of front sight is carefully raised into, and held in, the line of sight.

Each rear-rank man aims through the interval to the right of his file leader and leans slightly forward to advance the muzzle of his piece beyond the front rank.

In aiming kneeling, the left elbow rests on the left knee, point of elbow in front of kneecap.

In aiming sitting, the elbows are supported by the knees.

In aiming lying down, raise the piece with both hands; rest on both elbows and press the butt firmly against the right shoulder.

At the command FIRE press the finger against the trigger; fire without deranging the aim and without lowering or turning the piece; lower the piece to the position of LOAD and load.

145.  To continue the firing:  1.  AIM, 2. Squad, 3.  FIRE.

Each command is executed as previously explained.  LOAD (from magazine) is executed by drawing back and thrusting home the bolt with the right hand, leaving the safety lock at the “ready.”

TO FIRE AT WILL.

146.  FIRE AT WILL.

Each man, independently of the others, comes to the READY, aims carefully and deliberately ut the aiming point or target, FIRES, LOADS, and continues the firing until ordered to SUSPEND or CEASE FIRING.

147.  To increase (decrease) the rate of fire in progress the instructor shouts:  FASTER (SLOWER).

Men are trained to fire at the rate of about three shots per minute at effective ranges and five or six at close ranges, devoting the minimum of time to loading and the maximum to deliberate aiming.  To illustrate the necessity for deliberation, and to habituate men to combat conditions, small and comparatively indistinct targets are designated.

TO FIRE BY CLIP.

148.  CLIP FIRE.

Executed in the same manner us FIRE AT WILL, except that each man, after having exhausted the cartridges then in the piece, SUSPENDS FIRING.

TO SUSPEND FIRING.

149.  The instructor blows a LONG BLAST of the whistle and repeats same, if necessary, or commands:  SUSPEND FIRING.

Firing stops; pieces are held, loaded and locked, in a position of readiness for instant resumption of firing, rear sights unchanged.  The men continue to observe the target or aiming point, or the place at which the target disappeared, or at which it is expected to reappear.