Just to clarify, has anyone saluted to officers without arms before and can clarify how it's done? These are quotes from the Manuel d' Infanterie:
"If the general-officers or superior-officers of the regiment pass within the vicinity of the sergeants, corporals and soldiers, when they are seated or halted, those in the former case, rise and take up the position of shoulder arms (port d'arms), the bas-officiers, remove their hats[or shako I guess], the soldiers carry the hand to the hat; those in the latter case turn towards the side of which the person to be saluted is on."
"If the subordinates are on the march and they are passing their halted chjef', the bas-officiers salute, removing their hats, the corporals and soldiers carry the hand to the plate [of the shako I assume]"
"If a general-officer, superior-officer, or other calls a bas-officier (sous-officier) or soldier (to him), the latter advances to within two or three paces of his chief, brings his hat down, if he is a bas-officier; carry the hand (to the hat) if he is a soldier, and remain in this position until the officer ceases talking."
"the soldier carries the hand (to the shako), the "finger-nails" upwards, the palm to the front"
I'm mainly interested in the soldier's salute rather than NCOs. There are some terms that are a little unspecific, like "carry the hand to the hat". Any clarity would be appreciated, from what I gather you'd bring your fingertips to the plate of the shako with the palm facing forwards.
