Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-13

the uniform worn by the ''spahis' is an
adaptation Of the usual costume of thu,
country. The zouaveiike Jacket is bright
scarlet and the basgy trousers are bril-
moose, or cloak, with hood attached ia
the protection against sand and the desert
heat. In color II is bright red and around
the hood runs a band Of red. while tho
hood itself and the lining are white Red
leather boots reaching nearly to the knee
complete this remarkable costume
The officers of the Spahis troops might
at distance he taken for Br fish offI
GERS, for their conventional TUNES arr ~
bright scarlet. Their trousers are blut
with broad red divided stripes, and Their
forage caps. or 'kepis." are OF scarf;
trimmed with blue. They are the on.
soldiers of France who wear red coats
Artillery troops are clothed in dark
blue with red trimmings. the officers
tuntcs and trousers be ng of nearly
black hue. In fact in all branches where
the enlisted men wear dark hue coat
the officer wears one of black Mountain
artiiierymen sometimes wear the tam-o'
shanter hat. similar to that of the Al
pine chasseurs.
The engineer corps is clothed in dark
blue with scarlet trimming and blue caps
This clothing is very similar to that o.
the gunners. The army service corps
which includes great number of team
sters and outriders. Ia clothed like hus-
sars. only the tunics are OF grav-biu,
or iron gray instead of pale. clear blu.
Inc uTlIorfn OF the Srarde ReplDliCain@
Is dark blue coat. light blue trousers and
an aiguflette worn on the left shoulder
The mounted gendarmerie are clothed N
q very similar manner.
49,
Other special branches OF the service OF
rather less Importance or fewer In mum
bers have a variety Of beautiful and eff
fective costumes. In nearly all cases
brilEancy seems to have been the aim of
the designers, and scenes of French
troops in action. as depicted by De.aille
Meissonier and other artists. possess
wealth Of color that must appeal strongl
to the painter as well as to the inspecto
OF the finished picture. Stunning indet...
Is the costume worn by the cadets OF tue
military school of st. Cyr, with Its hlu,
coat, scarlet and blue trousers. Light blu"
and black cap surmounted by Il noddin-
plume of red and white feathers
The students OF ST. Cyr and of the Eco
Polytechnique, by the way. are counted
as part of the regular forces of Franc
In an emergency and are so listed In tn
summaries of the both peace and wa,
strengths Of the nation. During the
siege of Paris BY the nations allie.
against Napoleon I in 1914 these cadet.
many of them little more than boys. did
yeonlan service. and, with the greatest
daring and skill. using muskets and BAY
onets and serv. ng the cannon with whici.
the defenders were striving to hold back
the invaders. In case of another siege of
Paris By the Germans they will probabl
be heard from again and most credita-
bly,.
Within the last few years the French
army, or large part of 1t. has been
clothed in new field-gray uniform which
Is somewhat similar to the new field uni
forms NV no nd
the English and American khaki An
olive-drab, IL comfortable and incoi,-
spicuous campaign dress. The active
army is largely clothed in these uniform.
but the thousands of reservists of the
rious Lines, as well as some of the fitrl
line troops, are fighting the Germans IT,
clothing almost identical with that ys,,.--
at Gravelotte and Sedan forty years .-s
1t is comfortable enough. but il must e..
admitted that il is conspicuous. Up M ',u
recent adoption of the field gray kit ti4..
French was one of the few great arniIe
Of the world whose clothing on activ.
service and on reviews and parades WAS
practically the same.
-
The French are a thorough. painsta king
and economical people. The attention eu
detail and economy Of the ord.nar,
French housekeeper. be she rich or poor,
ts reflected as a national characteristic
In the rations and allowances in effect in
the French army. Everything is weighed
and measured and accounted for The
amount Of wood allowed to heat coffee.
for instance. is one and two-thirds ounces
per man: OF coal or charcoal, one ounce
The allowance of wood to cook meat
when in camp or bivouac Is two pound
and three ounces: or Of coal or charcopl.
one pound and one and one-half ounce
Officers have double ration. They hat
things down to that fine a point
France. and necessarily SO, for It is ne
a territory rich in timber.
The liquor ration is either nearly ha'
pint of wine or nearly a pint OF bee.
or cider, or nearly one-half pint OF brsai
dy per day. This latter ration wouu
probably not be Issued excep. by order a..
the commanding officer Of the ARM, an
might, on an occasion of stress, be issue.
as supplementary to either OF the win
rations. The tobacco ration for, non
commissioned officers and priva.es is
little more than one-third of an ount
apiece per day IN peace. and nearly on
half ounce in war. On field d-ty a cor
miss.oned officer Is entitled to a little lee
than three-Quarters of an ounce OF "ca,
oral
For many years France has striven
be ready for the next time she was f.
to the test She was unready in 1870 al
afterward realized 1t, and for four decad'
she has been applying the .ess
learned. Her face has been set -
since toward the dangerpoint. which
the eastern or German frontier, and
regulations applying to soldiers on nE-
post duty seem to give the keynot.
her watchful attitude.
French outposts are not permitted
talk, to sing or to smoke. The GerIna
by the way is often permitted the sofa,
OF his pipe; perhaps 1t is necessary ID
his existence. yet 1t seems an inevitab
risk. And. what Is Of particular inter
est. is the regulation providing that "a;
outpost shall watch the ground toward
the enemy even when saluting or replyins
to his superiors.''