Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-20
RULES ANENT UNIFORMING.

There are several established prin-
ciples in the art Of uniforming soldiers
One, for instance. is that no soldier
save a mounted one. shall wear plume
in his helmet, and another that all
mounted officers shall carry sabers, as
contradistinguished from the straight
sword a line officer of infantry wears
at his side. The cavalry Sabcr is a
long graceful weapon, and has a guard.
almost a basket hilt. The saber of the
artillery is not quite so long as the
cavalry saber, has a fuller curve, and
has another hilt. The sabers in both
these arms are large and heavy. with
steel scabbards, which clang and clank
on the ground behind the big trooper or
artilleryman. unless he gathers it up
under his arm or hooks it to his belt.
Ii is esteemed very soldierly. however,
to permit the saber to drag on the
ground, and so the practice is COM
mon. The sabers of the officers are, of
course, lighter and more ornamental
than those of the men,. Mounted otfl-
GERS Of Infantry carry cavalry sabers.
General Miles has recently intro
duced into the army the saber tache
(sword pocket.) a leather bag or port
maneau, which bangles beside the sab
er at the ends of the long straps from
the belt of the mounted officer The
saber tache has always been used by
hussars and other of the swell heavy
regiments Of horse in Europe. They
will be convenient to carry maps, dis-
match books and various small articles.
Il a s6inn- tDIlrn 10 the
staggering cavalryman.
General officers and officers OF the
staff departments, however wear the
sword of the infantry line officer. Inc
STRAIGHT sword is not suited to the
mounted officer and I have always
failed 10 understand this apparently
arbitrary and homogeneous rule. ne
sings are too short and prevent the
swords hanging gracefully at the size
MANY a time have | seen the ridiculous
little frog sticker of some old prlSade
ol1artermaster, after thrashlnS ms les
as he ealloped down the lines after lhe
general at inspection leap finally from
its scabbard and compel an undlSnlheu
halt pending its recovery.
SOMETHING ABOUT HELMETS.
THE headcear of the soldier IS nalu-
rally his most conspicuous ledtuie. iho
| helmet. worn only with dress uiiilo' III
is the last development in the eNoi"'
ton of the old steel casque ana IS hoN
| made of a lighter substance lelt u
cork. although the culrrassieurs vi ho'
ronean armies still wear metal he'll
,,e+s They come down Inter der
Linden dazzling and binding ana y.
| ,vildering the eye. The infantry ON
cnre cantains and lieutenantS III oui
army wear helmets of felt covered wiz
HACK cloth bearing the great s"'C
ntatad shield and eagle of the ohlte'
| states on the front and a huse tiii
chain that ordinarily Is VOL i.".,.
| over il. The helmets Oh lie
| officer of the line are Sufhlouii'O'
spike giving it a German app 49,
and a resemblance somewhat ~
helmet Prince Bismarck used l"
| Tho ono we see on the head OF the oi'
nrince in the pictures made OF MN u"-
ing the Franco Prussian war eo,,
The helmets of the mounted OH
ORC of the same block. MADE Vi
i and covered with black cioti'' an. -,
c,,rmonnted bv splendid plumes u Sa'
hair in color to correspond with IN
I arm Of the service. the infantry VA
cavalry yellow and artillery oa;
know of no sight so inspiring as a 'T lel
ment of cavalry in full dreHn' =, III
low plumes rising ana lai'''7 e., N
sun as they plunge alons ahou
: bugle sings 'Gallop. Oh l''''