Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-21
SHOP EARLY

In one engagement a French reg
iment lost IS per cent of it's officers
Most OF them were young men. fresh
from the military school at ST. .Cyr.
and they had taken a vow to go into
their first battle all spick and span,
even to the white gloves. The poor
youths fell in their first engagement,
victims of their weli-intentioned pride,
General Joffre thereupon gave orders
prohibiting white gloves in battle
Nevertheless. the percentage of losses
among his officers continued so high
further inquiry was made From
laxative prisoners it was learned that
the Germans had the Job of picking off
the opposing officers reduced to such
science that almost any trifie served
to distinguish the man of rank from
his humber comrade. The gold stripes
on trousers and kepis gave away the
French officers quite as effectively as
their gloves.
In the piping times of peace a score
OF things besides the insignia of his
rank distinguish the officer. In full
dress or dress uniform the gold braid
alone makes the officer shining Gym
osure And to judge from hundreds of
photographs seen on this side of the
Atlantic many officers of both sides
abroad have been fighting in dress
clothes and gold lace.
Not so the American officer, who, at
military garden party OF in a review
for the President of the United States,
may be quite as respondent as the for
eigner. For war he turns back to the
dull and uninteresting olive drab attire
the moment he takes the field. But he
doesn't stop there-army regulations
will not permit him. He must make
himself as inconspicuous as possible;
otherwise he will be .reprimanded, or
even courtmartialed. And first to go
is the saber, from time immemorial
the badge of an officers rank, from
commanding General down to junior
Second Lieutenant. 1t is no longer
worn in the field. The automatic pistol
takes its place at once. The Philip
pines taught the Yankee officer that
lesson.
But there still remain many items
which would betray him. These are the
black land gold hat cord, the band on
| the sleeve Of the coat, the belt, the
leather puttees or leggins. the field
glasses, the bronze collar devices in
dicating the arm of the service and
the number of his regiment, the wrist
watch, the compass, the whistle, the
gloves, the white collar and cuffs, the
pouch for pistol ammunition and the
holster for his revolver, which he
wears strapped down to his right leg.
Els canteen and haversack might cor
respond to those worn by the men.
But a battle is imminent. The brief
| orders come out that on the morrow
the regiment goes in to do or die, Quiet
~ the officers make their preparations
The gold hat cord is discarded and one
like the mems Cor none at alb takes
its place. The field glasses come out
| of their case and are hung over the
back by a slender strap not distinguish
| able so yards away. Canvas leggins
take the place of the smart leather
puttees. Watch, compass and whistle
! go into convenient pockets. Spurs are
! dropped off for the mounted officers,
| who do not ride in battle, any way
lest they betray themselves. In reality
the slender strap that supports the
field glasses is the only visible sign of
| rank.
Only his men know he is an officer
Nobody else need know. The enemy
must not New York World.