The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13
How 10 Tell an
Officers Rank.

The shoulder straps Of the army On
Ger from tie second lieutenant 20 the
major general are the same As regards
size shape and outer <ornamentation.
and It is only by the DISTINGUISHING
marks on the pad that the rank OF the
wearer Is designated. a shoulder strar
is narrow strap OF heavy cloth Ia
inches wide by 4 inches long. bordero6
with an embroidery OF gold quarter
of an inch wide III the pad has no
mark on IL. the wearcr Ia a second iteu-
tenant: II the pad has at each END one
silver embroidered bar, he is hrss
lieutenant: N there are two silver em-
broidered bars at each end, II IL CAD
tains strap n gold embroidered leaf
az each end, II ls a MAJORS; II q silver
embroidered leaf at each end, II Is y
| lieutenant coionefs; II silver embroid-
cred spread eagle. having In the right
talon an olive branch and I'm the left O
bundle Of arrows. IL In a colonels; IL
one silver embroidered ave pointed star
in the center II In n brigadier generals;
IL two silver embroidered five pointed
stars. II is a major generals: II three
silver embroidered stars OF ive rays.
one star In the center OF the strap and
one on each side. equldistant between
the center and outer edge Of the strap.
the center star the largest. Ii Is lieu
tenant generals; IL two silver embroid-
cred stars OF fve rays each and the
gold embroidered arms of the United
States between them. IL Is a generals.
At present the last two ranks are not
filed, though ii is probable that the
senior major general, Nelson A. Miles.
will be raised to that rank and ex-
change his two silver stars for three.
with the additional dignity. honor and
emoluments.
Then there are the shoulder knots,
which are ornamental punches OF gold
cord on cloth OF the same color as the
facings of the arm OF the service to
which the officer wearing them belongs.
The insignia Of rank, the same as on
the shoulder straps. and the number OF
regiment or corps are embroidered on
the cloth ground, which is blue for the
infantry, red for the artillery and yell
low for the cavalry Officers OF the ad-
jutant generals and inspector generals
departments and aids-de-camp to gem
| eral officers wear an aglet OF gold
cord with the right shoulder knot. They
are worn as the official full dress and
| for parade display.
Epaulets are worn by both our army
and navy officers as marks OF distinc-
| ton and ornament and always on state
and festal occasions. The ofYlcers o.
most militia organizations also adorl
themselves with these bunches OF gold
fringe.
In the British navy the ileutenants
and all superior officers wear epSulets
Of gold lace one on each shoulder, while
sublieutenants wear only one. giving thu
wearer a one sided appearance.
The ranks and degrees are marked n
a very systematic way by means ol
crowns. anchors and stars worked n
silver on the epaulet and also by, tht
size of the cords OF the epaulet. ThiI
decoration was formerly universal II
the British army. the officers wearing
gold and the men worsted. but durinl
the Crimean war they were abolished
as the officers by this distinctive mari
were exposed to unnecessary danger
The French army alone has retained
this general military establishment.