Questions about example sentences with, and the definition and usage of "Colonne"

A: "In column, cover!": When the unit is at attention and formed into a column, all elements located on the leftmost column (the base man's column) extend their left arm and take the distance of an arm from the element located in front, while the first elements of the other columns bend their left elbow and place their fist on their hip to take the distance of one cubit from the element located on their left, while turning their head to the left.

A: A test in English would use a different style. It would say something like:

"Rewrite vertically and evaluate: 473.26 + 3,052.4"

A: Probably vertebral column