Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-01
Common Questions Answered.

Among the questions oftenest asked
Of late arc, How may know an of
fcer's rani?" and, "How are our SOL
diers paid?" These are plainly and
succinctly answered by Col. c. Dew.
Wilcox in Harper's Magazine for No
vember, as follows:
It may not be amiss to give here the
insignia of the various grades OF Of
ficers in our service. Second lieu
tenants wear no insignia of rank: they
have a clean" shoulder strap and
many years in which to fill it with the
marks of the successive grades. These
are: for a first lieutenant, one silver
bar and for a captain two silver bars;
for major. gold, for a lieutenant
! colonel silver oak leaf; for colonel
silver eagle. Generals wear stars
brigadier one, a ma jor general two,
a acknowledgement three, full gen
eral two and the coat Of arms of the
United States. These marks are car
ried on the shoulder straps. On full
dress and over-coat sleeves, grades are
| indicated by an ornamental knot of
black braid, beginning with a single
I braid for first lieutenant: each pro-
motion adds a braid through the rank
! of colonel Generals have two bands
Of black nohair on their overcoats and
on full dress coat, band of gold oak
! leaves, surmounted by one or two
| stars (brigadier and major generaD.
In field dress (coat) the only marks
are those worn on the shoulder, and an
! olive drab band around the cuff, the
same for all grades; in the general
| staff this band is black.
The various branches of the army
are distinguished by certain insignia,
worn on the collar. Thus the infantry.
the cavalry. and the artillery wear
| crossed rifles, sabers, and cannon, re-
spectively; the engineers, silver
castle: the ordnance, shell and
! flame: the quartermaster corps.
sword and key crossed on a wheel: the
medical corps. a caduceus: the signal
corps, crossed flags; the Adjutant-
Generals department, a shield; the
Inspector Generals department.
sword and fasces crossed on wreath;
the Judge Advocate Generals depart
ment. sword and pen crossed on
| wreath
Grades and pay go together. A sec
ond lieutenant receives yearly s1.700:
a first, $4,000. Captains. majors. lieu
tenant colonies. and colonies draw.
respectively. $4,000. $4,000. $500, and
$4,000. This is the initial or base pay:
it is increased 10 per cent. for every
five years Of service up to 40 per
cent: this increase is known in the
army as "fogy" Lieutenant colonies
and colonies. however. stop at $4,000
and $4,000. respectively. The pay Of a
brigadier is $4,000, that of a major
general $4,000 respectively. Generals
get no "fogys" Officers receive be-
sides quarters. fuel, and light. The
pay Of enlisted men depends on their
grades. ratings. and length OF service;
1t Is too complicated to set out at
length here. A private. however. gets
a base pay Of s15 a month: corporal
s21 or 1924: sergeant. $50 or s36: first
sergeants $45--all with increases for
length of service. I'm addition be It
said. all non commissioned officers and
men draw clothing, and of course are
fed. These rates have been materially
increased during the present emerg-
encv. Commencing June first, nine
teen hundred and seventeen. and con-
tinuing until the termination Of the
emergency. all enlisted men Of the
Army af the United States In active
service whose base paw does not ex-
coed s21 per month shall receive an In
crease Of s15 ner month: those whose
base pay is s24 an increase Of $12 per
s3s. or $40. an increase of 50 per
! month. and those whose base pay Is
s45 or more an increase Of IS per