The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-04


circles the uniform of the army is
again to be changed. 1t seems that
the heads Of the service are not salts
fed with the present uniform, and it
is no wonder, for a more unsatisfactory
one could hardly be found. That of the
soldiers is highly satisfactory TO those
who want a neat and serviceable dress,
but the blouse of the officers has never
proved satisfactory to the majority
The old undress blouse was as neat
and serviceable as would be possible
to find, but a few men like General
Miles and others who spend their tune
around Washington are never salts
fed.
1t seems to be the determination Of
some of those in authority to adopt
uniform for the army that viii make
the officers and men look more like the
mem bers of a circus band than SOL
diers. The present uniform WcGn by
the officers is expensive and covered
with a large amount of surplus braid,
which soon shows wear and is a gen.
eral nuisance a successful attempt
was made to hide the buttons, but it
was not altogether satisfactory. In
order to hide the buttons they were
made to fasten under the edge CT the
blouse. In spite of all the tailors art
it was found impossible TO make this
edge lie fiat, for it would protrude
enough TO make it unsightly. The only
object in adopting it seems to have
been for show and it was a failure.
However, there are a few defects
other than the braid that should be
remedied. One of the changes that is
expected to be made is to do away
with the helmet now in use and sub
stitute headgear which is more salts
factory. Captain Francis Michler,
Fifth cavalry. A. D. C. to General
Miles, has prepared q. scheme of the
proposed changes, which Will be sub
mitted to the general as soon as he has
leisure to consider it. 1t is understood
that changes are to be made in almost
all the articles Of the present uniform,
but nothing definite is yet known
about it, 1t is to be hCPed that the
idea of dressing the soldiers up as if
they belonged to a circus or theatre
will be done away with erd uniform
adopted that viii be serviceable as well
as neat and pleasing TO the sight.
% - O.
Not long ago the quartermaster' de-
partment sent out samples of some
new tents 10 nearly all the army sta
tons This tent was sent cut for the
purpose of giving il a fair trial before
adopting it for general use in the army.
The new tents are Of the ordinary wall
type but differ from the ones now III
use, in that the color has been charged.
Instead Of the white of the present
ones a drab color has been substituted.
They Will match the color Of the haver-
sacks and blanket bags that are now
( furnished by the ordnance department.
The object in making the proposed
/ change is to do away vita the glaring
effect Of the white tents, which are too
conspicuous in time of war, and to
furnish one which viii not show too
plainly the results of wear and dis
colOration. The department is already
/ in receipt of letters of approval from
officers a verious points concerning the
experimental tents, and it is expected
that the new ones will be adopted.
- g 9
Another important change that is be-
! ing talked of in military circles is in
the manner Of paying the troops. a
| few Years ago 1T was the rule in the
army to have the troops paid by the
paymaster in person. This was done
away with and a different system
adopted. The new way, which is now
in effect, was to have the paymas ters
the officers, who would pay The troops
! This method has not proved very sat
iSfactOry and has many defects from
which the old system was free.
1t is expected that the secretary OF
war, Major General Miles and Pay
master General Stanton Will befor5
long reach q conclusion on the subject
CT the proposed change. General Miles
and PayEnaster General Stanton are
| warm advocates of return to the ole
! system OF payments by paymasters il
person, and Il is understood that the
secretary is likely to approve of a re
turn to the Old plan.
Il y 3
There is a gratifying showing in Tux
report of the number Of cases tried by
military courts the present year a:
compared with the last year. The
report shows that there were 1912.
trials by inferior courts martial in tht
army during the year ending Aug. 81
1897, a decrease of 1T cases as com
pared with last year. There is also /
| pleasing decrease in the number of de
seTtions, which bespeaks a better feel
ing Of satisfaction among the enlisted
! force of the army. In this department
the department of the Colorado-th,
assertions were 80 per cent less thai