Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-03
Eurt1tt,g Gl1at

Harrisburg had good many men
in uniform on its streets. and at It's
stations during the height of the
war and especially during the last
six months, but 1t would seem that
there are more than ever in the army
khaki or the navy blue about. The
fact is that Harrisburg Is not only @
transportation center, but that 1t is
becoming an important military cenz
ter. Its advantages in regard to ti~,
coastal cities at last being recognizes
by the military authorities, while it's
record in furnishing men and NUM-
tions and money for the war Is somee-
thing in which we can all take the
greatest pride. From what has Just
been learned the chances are that
Harrisburg will see a good many
| more men in uniform on its streets
after the war. The great depots
near Middletown and New Cumber-
land are being studied with a view
to not only maintaining them, but Of
eventual enlargement. And wis.,
this is considered it is only natvS-
that they should be establishme es.xs
or great military value. New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Wash
ington are all within a few hours
rail travel from Harrisburg. The
great material and munition manu-
facturing centers are close and the
rich agricultural and canning dis
| tricts of York and Lancaster coun-
ties are near. From all indications
Harrisburg is to become more or
less or a military post.
The average citizen is nonplussed
these days in his efforts to establish
the meaning and significance of the
various insignia and decorations be-
ing worn by returning soldiers and
ofhcers. Gold stripes, silver stripes,
blue stripes, red stripes, service rib
! bons of all colors, gold and silver
stars, shoulder devices and every
other form of adornment embellish
and ofttimes disfigure the returning
heroes. Perhaps 1t would be easy
to distinguish these numerous de-
vices were it not for the fact that so
much unauthorized stuff is being
bought and sold and worn to the
utter confusion of the casual OBJ
server. For example, the French
fourragere, a green or red cord with
pointed steel device worn wound
round the left shoulder, is granted
to French divisions after a certain
|
special order from the higher French
authorities. The Stars and Stripes,
official newspaper of the A. f. T.,
declares that only a very few Ameri-
can soldiers with previous service in
| the French army are entitled to this
decoration, and the statement is corr
| roborated by recent newspaper
| dispatch quoting a conversation on
the subject between General March,
| Chief of Staff, U. S. A., and a French
attache at headquarters in Wash
ington.
Abuse of the privilege of wearing
service ribbons on the left breast has
also caused revulsion of feeling
against those men who buy up all
manner of bright-colored bits of rib
bon and declaim modestly on the
campaigns for which they are worn.
The truth is. no ribbon for service
in this war has yet been authorized
in army orders, and many officers
and enlisted men are allowing their
love OF personal adornment to out
weigh their understanding or regu-
lations. The ribbons representing
the Croix de Guerre and our own
Distinguished Service Cross and Dis
tinguished Service medal are alone
permitted to be worn at this time.
Service ribbons for wars prior to the
world war are OF course not included
in the list.
Wound stripes of gold are worn
on the lower right sleeve of the coat
and overcoat, one for each day the
wearer received wounds, but not one
for every wound, If the latter were
all received in the same engagement.
The gold stripe Is worn on the left
sleeve for each six months spent
with the A. e. +. A single blue
stripe on the left sleeve signifies less
than six months abroad, while each
silver stripe represents six months
service in this country. 1t was not
contemplated that there should be
a combination of such stripes, as, for
instance, two silver and one gold, or
one gold and one blue. The red stripe
worn on the upper left sleeve an
nounces to the world that the wear
er has been honorably discharged
but not yet adopted civilian clothing.
AS for the stars, we have yet to see
any official authorization for the
sewing on of any stars, except on the
shoulders of general officers. Stories
have come from soldiers that the
gold star on the lower sleeve is for
the first 100000 oversees and the
silver star for voluntary enlistment,
4 but they lack verification. The poor
civilian is easily taken in and the
boys do love to fool them.
/
1t is understood that devices in
dicating the division with which the
soldier served may be worn below
the seam of the left shoulder by all
National Army and former National
Guard divisions. The majority of
Nthese are for citations. such as the
red keystone of the Twenty-eighth
Division, the red, white and blue
shield of the Forty-second or Rain
bow Division, and The wild cats
head" of the Thirtieth Division.