Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 19.djvu/728

* UNIFORMS. 634 UNIFORMS. 1857 the large black felt hat, turned up at one side, with an ostrich feather curled around the crown, appeared: this was the dress hat until the close of the C^ivil War. Divested of the feather, it became the campaign hat of the period and the ancestor of the drab felt service hat of 1898-190.3. At the beginning of the twentieth century the question of uniform has become almost as im- portant in its relation to military success as is the rifle or ammunition. The difficulty of cross- ing the tire zone of the modern rifle demands that the troops thus engaged be uniformed as incon- spicuously as possible ; but, in the universal ef- fort to attain this result, the nations are prac- tically adopting the same type of uniform, and the same color of material. The great disad- vantage of this was frequently seen in the Boer- British War of 1899-1902, "when the British troops were sometimes unable to distinguish groups of the enemy front similar bodies of their own forces, owing" to the fact that both sides employed Khaki uniforms. Uniforms of this material came into use about 1880 in the British-Indian Army. At first the Khaki dye was not fast color, and regiments on parade presented a somewhat mottled appear- ance. In 1884 two Englishmen named Lemaim and Gatti secured a fast dye and thus obviated the difficulty. This dye is used equally well for cotton or woolen materials, an important factor in view of service in difl'crent climates. In 1885 Lord Roberts investigated the matter and ordered accoutrements, gun wheels, and carriages to be painted in the Khaki color. With the helmets or turbans, haversack covers, and water bottles as well as the uniforms, in this dull shade, the soldier is practically invisible in the field. It was decided to do away with the distinguishing marks of oflieers in the field on account of the great losses among them in the South African War, but the ditfieulty of inaugurating any changes in the uniforms of the British Army stands in the way of any radical reform. For instance, in the Boer War the Highland regi- ments consented to w-ear Khaki helmets and jackets, but refused to give up their kilts. Simi- larly, every regiment in the British Army pos- sesses its own traditions and privileges. These privileges are regarded as inalienable rights, and as they conduce very strongly to esprit de corps, they have a value which in a degree offsets the strictly utilitarian vimvs of the War Office. The service uniforms of the armies of the military powers are now selected primarily for their usefulness under actual war conditions but the main eliaracteristics of the ordinary uniforms are indicated in the following summary: AU.STRIA. Infantry, a frock of dark blue cloth, the collar bearing patches with the regi- mental colors. Rifle regiments, liglit gray. The Bosnian infnntrii wear a frock coat of light color. C'ataln/: Drnr/oons, Uhlans, wear a single- breasted tunic of light blue cloth. Hussars, light and dark blue. The various regiments are distinguished by their head-dress or the color of their facings. The dolman is of the same color as the tunic, is lined with fur, and has a black astrachan collar. Engineers, light blue. England. Infantry, generally scarlet. Rifle regiments, dark green. The Royal regiments and guards are distinguished by their dark blue facings. Cavalry, scarlet or blue. Artillery, blue with scarlet facings. Engineers, scarlet with blue facings. I'kance. The radical change which took place in 1903 was largely due to General Andrce. In- stead of the red full trousers and double-breasted coat, a tunic of dark Prussian blue cloth w'ith a single row of buttons is worn. The trousers are of dark bluish gray. The head-dress consists of a large, broad-brimmed felt hat, looped up at the side with a red, white, and blue cockade, somewhat similar to those worn during the Directory. The only decorative portion of the uni- form is the red epaulets. Cavalry, cuirassiers, and dragoons wear a dark blue tunic, with the number of the regiment marked on the collar. Artillery, dark blue tunic and scarlet facings. Engineers, dark blue tunic, scarlet facings, and dark blue trousers. Oebmant. Infantry, single-breasted dark blue tunic with scarlet facings, the Guards regi- ments being distinguished by the lace on their cuffs. Rifle regiments wear dark green tunics with scarlet facings and a leather shako. Car- alry, cuirassiers, and dragoons, metal or leather helmet, white or light blue tunics. The hussars, tunics of various colors, dark blue breeches, fur busbies, Hessian boots, and gray cloaks. Lan- ders, lancier caps, dark blue tunic (Bavarians, dark green), dark blue breeches, long boots, gray cloaks, and white belt. Artillery, dark blue tunics, black facings. Saxon regiments wear dark green tunics with scarlet facings. Engi- ncerst, dark blue tunic, with black facings, white buttons, and scarlet shoulder straps. Early in 1904 the field dress of the German Army was changed in color and material like that now worn by the United States Army. See below. It.ly. Infantry, dark blue tunic, gray trousers. Caralry, dark blue tunic and light .gray trousers. Artillery, same tunic as cavalry, hut with yellow edging and dark blue trousers. Russia. Infantry, green tunic fastened by hooks instead of buttons, loose-fitting for men. No facings are worn, but a line of red piping goes around the top of the collar. Trousers, green with red facings for officers : men, green, without facings. Knee boots are worn, into which the trousers are tucked. Grenadiers wear the same imiform as the infantry except that the shoulder straps are always yellow and the regi- mental number on the cap is followed by the initial letter of the word grenadier. The in- fantry of the Guard wear a tight-fitting tunic, with facings of white, red, or orange, according to their divisions. Cavalry, grenadiers, and dra- goons wear green tunics with two rows of but- tons, facings of red on collar and sleeves. The trousers are of gray cloth, with red stripes for the Guard onlv. The uniform of the Cossack troops generally consists of a coat hooked obliquely across the chest, with facings of red, blue, or yellow, according to the regiment. The trousers are of blue cloth, with wide red stripes ; boots to the knee, and black sheepskin cap, with a red top. The Cossacks of the Caucasus wear the Caucasian dress of a dark gra,v coat under which is parity exjxjsed a white waistcoat, full gray trousers tucked into the boots, and high round caps of sheepskin. Artillery uniforms are modeled after the infantry and cavalry. <Tapan. The Japanese artillery, infantry, and cavalrv wear the same style of uniform, except that the facings for cavalry are green, artillery