Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-22


the head-the cap insignia. Next
come the collar insignia, then tina
| shoulder loop insignia, then the sleeve.
| The whole matter of insignia is treat
| ed in the same order.
There are certain changes made in
! the uniform which perhaps to the I'M
initiated may appear unnecessary. For
example, in the past the aiguilettes
have always been worn on the right
shoulder. According to the new order
they will be worn on the left shoulder.
The reason for the change is that the
American army is the only army IN
the world where the aiguillettes are
worn on the right shoulder. In all
European armies the aiguillettes are
worn on the left shoulder, except in
the case of aids to the sovereign, who
wear them on the right shoulder. This
practice also obtains in our navy. All
officers except the aids to the Presi-
dent wear the aiguillettes on the left
shoulder. on account of this unusual
practice time and again officers of the
United States army while in Europe
who have worn their aiguillettes on
the right breast have been mistaken
for aids to the President and havt
been asked if they were not such aids.
The practice of wearing medals on the
left breast dates back to the days Of
knightheod, when every knight wore
his badge of loyalty or fealty TO his
king or sovereign near his loyal heart.
Since the Spanish American War
the policy of the War Department has
been To leave the question Of the pre-
seribed uniform in the hands of post
commanders as much as possible. As
a result of this there has been until
now a uniform without uniformity. II
vas not an unusual sight to see the
various officers at gathering of &
general nature in an army post wear
ing three or four different uniforms.
Under the new order the post COM
mander is directed to prescribe the
uniform for every occasion, social, Of
fetal or of a general nature, and what
ever the uniform prescribed it must be
worn by all present on that occasion.
Officials at the War Department in
Washington say that a number of per-
nicious practices have been permitted
to take root among the enlisted men
of the army, such as the wearing on
the coat of picture badges. jewelry and
other articles that do not form a part
of the uniform. 1t is also common
Practice for soldiers to fasten the
blouse beneath the last button of the
coat by means of an iron hook. Also
If is mere or less usual at present for
soldiers to mount guard in their best
uniform, but to change the same and
set into slovenly clothes Immediately
lK. -
ing of this kind was ever intended by
the uniform order The new order
enjoins all officers to do everything in
their power not only TO set a proper
example To enlisted men but to. facili- /
tate as much as possible the care and
preservation of the uniform.
Another thing the new order will
accomplish is to do away with the
practice of officers turning out be-
decked with all kinds of medals strung
over the front portion of their anato-
mics. When an officer. for instance,
wears a campaign medal or a ribbon
he will not be permitted to wear any
other medals or ribbons. Some of
hcers often appear in public wearing
campaign badges, craftsmanship
medals and various other medals until
they succeed in literally covering
themselves with all kinds of things.
This practice, it is claimed simply
eheapens badges and medals, and SO
hereafter whenever an officer appears
with campaign badge badge in
dicative of action and something to be
proud of, it will be worn alone. In our
army in the past officials say we have
IJtrht e.tH,
as it should be- but so far as the uni
form order is concerned everything
Wall be done 10 accentuate and place
proper value upon active service.
In all uniform orders in the past the
full dress uniform, which as a matter
of fact is worn the least, was placed
first. In the new uniform order the
service uniform comes first. The uni
form used most is at the head of the
list. Every point will be covered IN
the new order specifically, and nothing
will be left to the imagination. For
instance, the old order states that of
ficers in the field without coats will
wear Insignia of rank on the collar of
the shirt. but just exactly how far
from the end of the collar the INSIGNIA
| shai! be worn Is not stated, nor is 4
stated in the case of a major whether
the oak leaf shall be worn with the
steam to the front or to the rear, UP or
down. Nor does it say whether A
colonel will wear his eagle on his col
OAR with the bird looking to the from.
or to the rear All these things are
covered In the new order.
There Is no soldier in the, world who
has sucn generous uniform as that
given 10y Uncle Sam to the American
soldier. on the other hand. officials
say, there is probably no other sol
der in the world who looks more I'm.
tidy than the average American sol
.dier While on pass. The new uniform
order intends to remedy these condi-
lions as much as possible by directing
| post commanders to issue such orders
as may be necessary to have every en-
listed man inspected before he leaves
the post on pass and also upon his re-
turn If he is neatly and properly
dressed on these two occasions. it is
argued, lie probaly will be neatly ana
properly dressed during the interval
l.