The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-10
NEW UNIFORMS NEEDED.
Clothing Equipment Re-
duired by the Army.
From the Kansas City Starr

ftrom the Kansas City Starr
| The story about the American Minister
/ abroad who appeared at court in the uni
/ form of a captain OF cavalry. points again
TO the need of new style OF dress for the
| United States Army. Having served his
country as an officer of cavalry, the min
lister presented himself in a full dress uni
form. with yellow plumed helmet, feeling
that he conformed with the conventions Of
European society, which require court cos
/ tune or military uniform in meeting the
sovereign Of the country.
But the foreign diplomats were even
more amused over the appearance OF the
American Minister in the military regalia
| than they would have been 10 see him
dressed in black evening clothes like a
servant among the gentlemen in white
satin. They regarded the one as crude,
| but the other as ridiculous. The minister
felt all right until he was asked: Are you,
then, fireman at homer"
The army officers are demanding new
uniforms, but particularly for the sold
iers. They say the ordinary service uni
form is all right for garrison duty, except
ing the cap, which is unmilitary and I'M
graceful, but there is no field garb worthy
Of the name and the full dress the troops
is hideous. An officer says that, at Ma
Mia, it is impossible to tell by his dress,
whether man is a soldier or a civilian.
A private writes from Cuba that, in his
company, there are not two shades of
khaki alike. owing to original variance in
color and the subsequent fading by wash
ing. From China one American CORE
sp0ndont sends a lamentation about the
unsolGiery appearance of the American
troops compared with those Of otheI ma
tons.
From General Miles down there have
been suggestions Of new uniform A
military journal suggests that confer
ence OF officers and taiIors and artists
shall be called to decide on a new dress
which will at once be simple. serviceable
and attractive. There is a general agree
ment that the service cap is bad and that
a grey wooden shirt would be better than
the blue garment. One suggestion is
srey blouse with outside pockets high up,
incunspicuous insignia for non-cOmmis-
stoned officers and a iaunty cap, all the
piping and braid to be narrow. so that it
may not be seen at distance. What is
wanted is something that will look good
on any person fit TO be a soldier, without
being gaudy.
Two very handsome American uniforms
were the costumes of the cavalry and ar
tillery of the civil war period-a Jacket
with a high collar the jacket cut short at
the waist and finished with a sash-after
the manner of the old dragon uniform
and the familiar grey costume of West
Point West Point cadet, or soldier OF
the Seventh Regiment of New York Ma
tional Guards, cuts as fine a figure as
could be desired, but 1t must be remem-
bereJ that their uniforms are made by
tailors after measurements. IL might be
we'll for the War Department to offer
prize for the best idea in uniforms for
the army.
1t is said that the uniforms of the
French Alpine regiment is under consid-
era;ion by the War Department, but the
very worst botches have been made in
copying European ideas. 1t ought to be
possible to design something distinctively
American, and at the same time produce
the most attractive military garb in the
world.
In the Spanish war the boys strove to
initiate the soldiers of Frederick Rem
ington and succeeded wonderfully we'll,
but something more trim and decorous
is required for the soldiers of the great
est nation on the globe. and American
ingenuity and taste ought to be equal to
supplying this need.