The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-19
HOW TO KNOW THEM,
Marks of Rank of Sailors. Soldiers and
Marines.

The difficulty or distinguishing tho rank
and corps OF officers Of the army and
navy IS not so great as tho variety or
devices I'm their uniforms would seem to
Indicate The relative rank of naval ana
military officers and the distinguishing
device which each grade has I'm common
are soon learned, and having Observer
this little study soon unravels the APP
parent confusion IL is well known tlat
our national uniform Is blue I'm color
though for certain specific purposes Ger
tain variations exist in this. the Wnlte'
worn I'm warm weather. or the new cam
palgn dress being tho notable EXCEPTIONS.
White also worn by our hiuejachel7 as
n working suit, has been In use for TWEEN
~ wears. but the dull brown canvas
known as the "khah' Of India, worn
by the soldiers Of the British Empire
for field service. IS a new and welcome
departure I'm the uniform Of our troops.
There is no more useful and serviceaole
material than this, for it Is equally vail
liable I'm tropical and in temperate cu-
mates. It's light weight makes 10 cool lh
warm weather, and with heavy uuoei
wear it is suitable for tho demands OF
moderately cold climates.
Tho army is more fortunate than iAe
navy IN the number Of uniforms pre-
gcribed for IT'S officers. Military officers
have practically but three official garbs-
the full. the service and the campaign
dress. Naval officers have 20 PROVIDE
themselves with four un1Orms-spccia
rul dress. underss. evening dress ana
service dress The undress may be con
vertcd into two others. known as tull
dress and dress. but these are varia-
tiors cmpi0ved ON certain special occa-
sions. and are merely the Enlightenment
OF the undress by certain suosutuuons.
Many white uniforms have % be worn.
and with the total absence OF ldundre7
on shipboa~d the supply must be gem
crOus. FOR cleanliness is very very near
to godliuess ahoat
The relative rank or army and navy
officers. (0mitt'ug General and Admiral
anal Lieutenant General ana Vice Adj
miral. both OF which grades are ln
tbeyancel. and the main DISTINGUISHING
DEVICES worn in cnaulets in shoulder
straos or on the collars. are as follows e.
-. N8vv. De tee.
Major Den. Rear Admiral Two stars.
Brig Gen. Commodore. one slaI.
colonel. Captain. SpI.od -, r-17-
rfaut col Commander. Silver oak Leaf
Major Lieut.. Com. Gold oak lean
Captain. Lieutenant wv ~
FIRST Lieut.. Lieut.. Gun., E DEB. one par
Sec. Lieut.. Ensien. NJ ~
l,ort I'm mtrd that line officers have posl-
tir. mr. -acruqi rank. ANA staff officers
,vbO constitute the Medical. Pay. tAIl-
Moor Construction ana civil engineer
Cor-s. have relative rank. Ine "eNi'.7
indicated above are authorized ae.'I '-
.r, to tina positive and relative
mt he,d. hut the different corps are
tbrs dis.if.cuished: The line, silver ail-
CHOIR. Medical Corps spread oAA l,l.'
embroidered in dead gold, with an acc. u
embroidered i'm silver upon ll' I'y
Corps. silver oak sprls' li ,-..7.
c,,rrs four silver oak leaves; CohS1ru,
ti,r Corns. A. gold spr.g or two live OAK
f.,,os anal an acorn. Professors. one SIZE
,ar. oak leaf and am acorn; ClFl Eng
,.ors the lctreys g. II IN silver be7lu'7
No. an commissioned officers wear
,,oi1 'ace unOn the sleeve, when Ndile.
4, +birknoss and in the number or
strinee. according 10 positive or Ielall'e
grade. ........,,,.o5
~, the sleeves Line officers, luciudlf-
naval cadets. mates, bo"lsN'l..5 ,l ,,.,
runners wear ON the outside or eacA
sleove a star of five rays, embroidered
8, cold. the ray pointing downward, be-
Inc, ono-f9urth or an inch from the up-
Dcr edge OF tho upper strip OF lace WntH
iqco is worn. or. iu the case or mates,
boatswains and Eunners. four lncIg9
from the edge OF tho sleeve StaH ON
GERS. EXCEPT chaplains. who have no uni
form other than that commonly worn
bv clergvmen-Wear the same lace on
tho cuff- aa the line officers. with whom
tbav have relative rank. Ia lieu OF the
star which is the distinctive brand or
Tho line or executive branch, they nave
hands OF colored cloth between or above
Inc strip OF gold lace the colOrs varying
as follows. Medical officers, dark ma
room velvet: pay officers. white clolh'
engineer officers. red cloth; naval con-
structors. dark violet cloth; professors
or mathematics. olive green clotn' clVll
enclneers. light blue velvet.
Cooked hats and blue caps arc worn
IN the navy. The rank is indicated IN
the former by the character Of the lace
rear admirals and commodore7 sporting
cold on the rim. and all others moro
n,odoetIv contenting Themselves with
black lace. The cap IS Of dark. navy
blue cloth. with a slopinC visor ana a
rounded full TOP. The device for an
commissioned officers, and for naval
cadets I'm active service afoat. is sill
YER shield. surmounted by a silver
spre9d eagle. and resting upon the cross
ed foul anchors. embroidered in gold.
officers OF the line and star or ana
above the grade OF commander wear
cans which have the edge Of the peak
or visor embroidered in gold. This has
been lately adopted in our navy. and the
practical intention underlying Is 70 indl-
cate az a fairly long distance the rank
OF commanding md other senior officers.
Army rank and special corps assign
ment are shown in other ways than by
the devices described above in the data
of relative rank To begin with, they
have. like the navy. different insignia
and different colors for emphasizing the
differences Of corps. and In the higher
grade a varied arrangement OF buttons
on the coat. The general OF the army
wears two rows OF buttons on his coat
twelve buttons in each. grouped by
fours. and the lieutenant general ten
buttons in each row. the upper and
lower grouped by threes and the middle
by fours. Major generals wear two rows
OF buttons, nine in each row. grouped
by threes. and brigadisr generals two
rows. eight IN each. grouped IN pairs.
Colonies. lieutenant colonies and majors
wear two rows, nine In each, equally
distributed. and captains and subalterns
two rows with seven buttons In each,
equally distributed All general officers
wear cuffs faced with dark blue velvet.
The device upon the buttons varies ac-
cording 10 corps. the generals, general
stan and the line. consisting Of the In
fantry, artillery and the cavalry. wear
ing a gilt convex button. on which Is
H.