Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-03
UNIFORMS IN THE NAVY.
Officers Once Wore What They
Would, Sailors What They Could.

From the Bluejacket
Both the officers and the crews of the
older navies used to dress pretty much as
they pleased In Nelson's time an at
tempt was made to get the officers ar
rayed with some sort of system, but the
sailors wore whatever they could get
hold Of
That the dominant colors in dress in the
British navy land resulting in the navies
Of other countries) were determined by a
woman's influence is shown in English
records. The Hon John Forbes, ADMIRAL
OF the feet, said:
"Advertlng to the establishment OF
naval uniforms, 1 was summoned to at
tend the Duke of Bedford and, being in
troduced into an apartment surrounded
with various dresses. my opinion was
asked as to the most appropriate.
said red and blue, as they were our ma
tiOnal colors.
mo replied his grace. the king
! George I'D has determined otherwise, for
having seen my duchess riding In the
park few days ago in a habit of blue
faced with white the dress took his
majesty's fancy. who has appointed II
for the uniform of the royal navy.
While wearing uniform himself, Mel
son was jealous I'm guarding against fur
Their entertainments on the sailors pre-
rogative in the matter Of dress. About
the time of the French revolution epaulets
began to be worn in continental navies:
at first only on one shoulder, according
to the officers rank. In 1888 Nelson
while in France. wrote to his father
1.-TWO noble English captains are here
They wear fine epaulets. for which j
think them great coxcombs. You may
suppose l hold them a little cheap fol
putting on any part of Frenchman's
uniform
1t was only a few years after this
however that Nelson himself was wear
ing an epaulet, not only on a single
shoulder. but OH both.
IN the United States navy uniforms
were prescribed from the outset-but
with the very wise clause, inserted as a
parenthesis, "if they can be procured.
BY resolution of the continental board
coat Of blue cloth with red lapels slashed
cuffs, stand up collar. fiat yellow but
tons. blue breeches and a red waistcoat
with yellow lace.
Lieutenants were TO have a blue coat
red lapels. round cuffs faced. stand uI
collar. yellow buttons. blue breeches
and plain red waistcoat. Midshipmen
were to have a blue coat with lapels
round cuffs. faced with red, stand-uI
collar, red at the buttons and button
holes. blue breeches and red waistcoat
Officers CT the marines were to have a
uniform CONSISTING OF a green coat faced
with white. round cuffs. slashed sleeves
and pockets. with buttons around the
cuffs. silver epaulet on the left shout
der. skirts of the coat turned back dixie
the uniform of the continental SOLDIER
buttons for the fl cines. white watstcoat
and breeches edged with green, and black
CATERS and rarters. The marines were
to wear green shirts
Rrt it is hiehly improbable that these
prescribed uniforms were ever worn ex-
cept in cases of great ceremony or where
the officer was sitting for his portrait
The facts in the case seem to be that
John Paul Jones. Nicholas Biddle. John
Barry and other nautical heroes of the
revolution achieved their greatness in red
or blue flannel shirts and in anv other
clothing that came handy: doubtlessly
patched by the ships tailor not too neat
~. with sail cloth by the assistance OF
MARINE spike and spun yarn.