The sun., 1916-12-11
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AN AMERICAN
SAILORS SLEEVE MARKS.
Chevros Rating Badges specially and Distinguishing Marks Explained
For Of Ashore.

The letters discussing tho meaning
OF the stripes on the Uniform of our
sailors and their use OF a neckcrchief
which have appeared on the editorial
page OF THE SrN recall the fact that
hardly one out OF n hundred men can
tel the meaning Of the insignia which
appear on the sleeves OF naval men.
On every naval ship the crew is di-
vided into many CLASSES, each man
having his own particular station and
duties at alf~times. and In order that
each one may be known or identified
on sight he receives a rating badge or
distinguishing mark to denote his rank
or Office.
The rating badge consists. frs. Of
all. Of spread eagle. commonly called
by the bluejackets a crow which is
placed above a speciality mark or
ohevron. Tho eagle Is always Of white
ELK when used on blue suits. and %
blue silk when used on white suits.
Tho chcvrons are made or stripes
Of scarlet cloth. sewn fiat in the shape
of an angle, with the points upward.
When permanent petty officers hold
three consecutive good conduct badges
these chcvrons are made of gold lace
instead OF scarlet cloth. Chief petty
officers wear three stripes, with an
arch OF one stripe forming the arc Of
circle between the ends Of the upper
stripe OF the chevron, with the eagle
resting on top Of the arch. while the
speciality mark IL placed in the centre
OF the field under the arch Officers Of
the first class wear three stripes. those
of the second class wear two stripes,
while those OF the .hird class only wear
one stripe.
For blue clothing the speciality mark
is embroidered In white silk. and for
the white clothes blue Is used. except
hospital stewards and their appren-
ticcs. who wear red Geneva crosses
as their marks, both for the blue and
white clothing.
The rating badge is worn by all petty
officers of the starboard watch on the
right sleeve. while those Of the bort
watch wear .hcir badges on the let
sleeve.
The man who has never been at sea
and knows nothing about il is rated on
the s"ip's bool, AZ a "landsnan" or. In
naval parlaNcc. "A "landlubber." After
he has gained Al good knowledge of the
art OF knotting, splicing. handling OF
ooats and oars. gunnery and other
duties. he IL promoted To the mex.
higher rating. that of ordinary seaman.
and from this To tho one emitting him
tn Use the letters 4. B after his name.
signifying tina. he is an able seaman
BY this time. however, he has become
So proficient In ship knowledge that he
Is eligible to receive petty officers
rating and after yeas of service and
devotion 10 the duties To- which hc is
best suited he may receive warrant
commission, which will entitl. him 10
mess with the Junior officers in the
wardroom and have additional liner.
ties which the ordinary seaman does
not have.
1t i not generally Know that ever
carries "A policeman on
board. but the Master at Arms. or
Jimmy Legs. as II" is usually called
acts IN hat capacity. ~" - really th.
chief OF police AMI has general charge
o' tie order and cleanliness of the
decks and lockers. The boatswains.
who have charge "f the deck watches.
and the coNswdins. VINO arc In charge
OF the lcats and launches. each wear
croSTed anchors az thei" spec.,lty
marks. The qiar.ermast-T. who 81, crs
tie s!ll'. wears ? repre- cntaiiul o' his
scoring wheel. The hlacksmiths and
ships iitters wear rros-"d hammers.
Nlilc IN" carpenters. painters ana