The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-05-03

.nte. the army organization The. kaeaeE
becomes the appreciation of the neces-
sity of properly classifying every civil
ian of military age, that, in emergency,
nc may be called forth to serve his
country in that capacity in which he
is best fitted to give the highest re-
suits. America is backward as COM
pared with other nations in the organi-
:ation Of it's civilians, but thanks to
the impetus of the movement for ade-
luate preparation, volunteer organiza-
lions in every locality are now doing
what our government should have
lone long ago. Every tradesman, me-
chanic, laborer, professional man, skill
"a workman, business man, artist or
poet can be fitted into the vast organi-
:ation wheel in such way that his
location or avocation will be turned TO
Ills country's advantage.
Consider for moment the various
luxillery branches of the service. The
machine gun companies and troops are
such an important auxillery of the In
,antry of cavalry that, in defense, they
Ire considered more valuable than
-riflemen and unless completely put out
Of commission by artillery fire, a
rench reasonably supplied with these
guns, can pour forth hail of bullets
sufficiently to stop any amount OF
iesh and bone thrown against it. 7
The engineering corps is made up OF
.roops which in war, lay out and pre-
pare Notifications, lines of march
bridges, do all pioneering work and
n short perform or superintend all
construction work for the army.
The signal corps has complete
charge of the aviation, telegraph, wire
ess telegraph, telephones and ordi
larry signal methods. In this branch
ire thousands of men drawn from the
electrical field. Here is listed the aer
Jplane service, when has supplanted
he cavalry in the eyes and ears of the
army. '''> fe'f' .'''h>
The medical department has charge
VI the sanitary organization of the ar
my. It's two main divisions are tho
hospital corps and the ambulance ser
ice.
To provide cannon, small arms, anu
lition and the hundred and one items
hat are classed as munitions, is tho
iuty of the ordnance department
which also controls all of the govern
nent arsenals.
The quartermasters corps is the
.ousckceper as well as the department
tore for the army, except that it has
10 firearms OF ammunition for sale. Tho
:uartermaster general will supply q
general with baggage train, or pri
vate with a toothpick. The quartermas
or also pays army bills.
Only few days ago it was a com
)aratively easy thing to recognize by
he uniform the branch of Service t.
ghich soldier belonged, but today
he army is complex i'm its organiza
ion that even the most sophisticated
S liable to err, particularly il troops
IRE in service uniform. However {
study will familiarizc one sufficient!
o recognize branches Of the service
'anks of officers, and grades of enlist
I'd men by the style of uniform, color!
Of stripes, facings, hats, cap, collar, or
ahments and chevrons.
Uniform regulations provide tina
cavalry trimmings must be yellow, in
antry, light blue; artillery red, medi
cal department, maroon; all staff de
)artments, black ;engineers, red pipet
with white; ordnance, black pipeC
with red; quartermaster corps, buff
:ignal corps, salmon llith white edge
Commissioned officers may be rec
cGnizcd by shoulder strap, devices, col
ar ornaments and hat cords, while
lon-commissioned officers wear cheV
rons on the sleeve. Enlisted men o
particular occupation, such as cooks
horseshoers, saddlers, etc, wear sleeve
devices, in which appropriate emblem!
ire set. All United States regulars
wear the initials U. S. on the colla
band, while volunteers wear the mi
tials U. S. V. The badges of corps, de
partment and arm of service are wol
en the collarband of the coat.