triangle with two vertical bars in
front of it and a device made up of
the King’s monogram, wings, a spear
head and bolts of lightning, all in gold
embroidery.
Brigadier General The same as for major general, except
there is but one vertical bar.
Colonel Three gold stars arranged in the form of
an equilateral triangle pointing down
with a semicircular gold bar beneath it.
Lieutenant Colonel The same as for colonel except there are
but two stars.
Major The same as for lieutenant colonel except
there is but one star.
Commandant Three gold stars arranged in the form of
an equilateral triangle pointing down.
Captain The same as for commandant except that
the lower star is silver.
First Lieutenant Two gold stars.
Second Lieutenant One gold star.
Adjutant One silver star.
[Illustration: _Photo. Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
Belgian Army. Officers’ service uniform]
The grade of Commandant has no corresponding one in the United States
Army; the rank is between those of Major and Captain.
The grade of Adjutant corresponds to that of a Warrant Officer in the
United States Navy and Marine Corps.
The service uniform of the enlisted men in the Belgian Army is similar
in design and color to that of the British soldier.
The rank of noncommissioned officers is indicated by stripes upon the
cuffs as follows:—
Regimental Sergeant Major Three narrow stripes around the
cuff parallel to the lower edge.
Sergeant Major Two stripes around the cuff with
two diagonal stripes above them.
First Sergeant Two stripes around the cuff.
Quartermaster Sergeant One stripe around the cuff with
one diagonal stripe above it.
Sergeant One stripe around the cuff.
Corporal One stripe around the cuff, narrower
than that worn by a sergeant.
Specialty marks are worn upon the sleeves above the elbow to mark men
assigned to special duties.
Engineers A plumed helmet.
Aviator The King’s monogram with an eagle’s
wing at each side.
Hospital Corps A caduceus surrounded by a wreath.
Cycle Corps A bicycle wheel.
Grenadiers A bursting bomb.
Bandsmen A lyre.
The men wear tan leather belts and cartridge pouches.
UNIFORMS OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY
The officers and enlisted men of the Russian Army formerly had a
great variety in uniforms for the different corps and branches of the
service; the infantry of the regular Line wore uniforms of green cloth
with red facings; the hussars wore green jackets trimmed across the
front with white stripes and loops, red breeches and black high boots;
the guards wore green uniforms with yellow facings; the Don Cossacks
wore uniforms of dark gray, the coat being long and the breeches very
loose and the headdress being a black shako; and the Kuban cossacks
wore a uniform of similar design of reddish brown cloth.
During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-5 an effort was made to
standardize the field service uniforms with the result that the present
service uniform is of cloth of a gray-brown shade. The Cossacks have to
some extent preserved their distinctive dress.
The service uniforms for officers consists of a single-breasted sack
coat with a standing collar, a pocket with flap on each breast and
closed by a row of gilt buttons down the front; breeches of the same
color with stripes down the outer leg seams of varying widths according
to rank and of different colors according to the corps or arm of the
service; a bell-crowned cap with sloping visor, and black boots.
[Illustration: Russian Army. Officers’ shoulder straps indicating rank
The straps are of black cloth covered with gold or silver lace,
depending upon the rank and corps of the officer. Those for General
Officers are of gold lace with silver stars
1. General 2. Lieutenant General 3. Major General 4. Colonel
5. Lieutenant Colonel 6. Senior Captain 7. Junior Captain
8. First Lieutenant 9. Second Lieutenant]
The rank is indicated by the trimming and ornamentation of flat
shoulder straps, those for the various grades of rank being shown in
the accompanying illustration. It will be noted that there are no
grades of Brigadier General or Major in the Russian Army, but that
there are two grades of the rank of Captain, called First and Second or
Senior and Junior Captain. The duties of the Senior Captain correspond
in a measure to those of Major in the United States services. Line
officers of the rank of Colonel and below wear the number of their
regiment in the center of the shoulder strap.
The Russian officer’s service cap is similar to that worn by officers
of the United States Army except that the top of the crown is
relatively greater in diameter. The band is of the distinctive color of
the corps or arm of the service. A medallion made up of the national
colors is worn at the center of the band in front and the visor
and chin strap are of brown leather. In some of the regiments gray
sheepskin shakos are worn by both officers and men instead of the cap.
The arm of the service or corps is indicated by patches of colored
cloth on the front of the collar on each side of the neck opening.
The sword belt is of tan leather with a cross strap from the right
shoulder to the left side at the waist although in some corps the sword
is suspended from the diagonal cross strap only, the waist-belt not
being worn by officers.
The uniform of the enlisted men is of similar cut to that of the
officers except that the coats are looser and in some corps are closed
by a row of buttons down the right side.
The rank of the noncommissioned officers is indicated by stripes and
other insignia upon narrow flat shoulder straps worn from the base of
the collar to the top of the sleeve shoulder seam.
The Russian Army has an officer of Warrant rank, intermediate between
the commissioned officers and enlisted noncommissioned officers. These
Warrant officers wear one broad stripe across the shoulder strap near
the collar end.
The noncommissioned officers wear narrow stripes on their shoulder
straps in the same position; a sergeant major having three such
stripes, a sergeant two and a corporal one.
There have been various corps and specialty insignia but as these are
now in a process of being changed they cannot be given accurately.
The Russian noncommissioned officers wear swords suspended from tan
leather belts and the privates wear a tan leather belt with cartridge
boxes of the same material. All of the enlisted men carry their extra
clothing in a blanket roll over the right shoulder and diagonally
across the body to the left side at the belt.
UNIFORMS OF THE RUSSIAN NAVY
The uniforms of the officers and enlisted men differ in many respects
from those which are common to the navies of the other principal powers.
The officers’ uniforms are as a rule made of a dark green cloth for
dress and winter wear and of white cotton or linen for hot weather.
The prescribed uniforms are full dress, dress, undress and service
(working) dress.
The full dress uniform consists of a cocked hat, tunic with standing
collar, epaulets, and trousers with gold lace braid on the outer leg
seams.
The dress uniform consists of a cap, double-breasted frock coat, with
epaulets, and plain trousers.
[Illustration: Russian Navy. Officers’ sleeve decorations indicating
rank
1. Admiral 2. Vice Admiral 3. Rear Admiral 4. Captain
5. Commander 6. Lieutenant Commander 7. Lieutenant
8. Sub Lieutenant 9. Warrant Officer]
The undress uniform is the same as the dress uniform without epaulets.
The service or working uniform consists of a cap, a short single
breasted tunic of dark blue cloth and plain trousers.
In hot weather a similar uniform of white cotton or linen material is
worn.
An overcoat of black cloth and a heavier one of gray cloth with a fur
collar are worn by officers.
In May, 1917, the shoulder straps and the insignia of rank formerly
worn upon them were abolished and stripes on the sleeves above the cuff
to indicate rank with distinctive colors to indicate the Staff corps,
were adopted for all uniform coats and the overcoat.
These stripes for the different grades of rank are as shown by the
accompanying illustrations.
Officers of the Line and of the Engineer Corps wear gold stripes,
and officers of the Medical Corps, Naval Constructor Corps, Judge
Advocate’s Corps, and Paymasters wear silver stripes, with the stripes
edged with cloth of a distinctive color for each corps.
These distinctive colors are:
Medical officers White.
Naval Constructors Red.
Judges Advocate Crimson.
Paymasters wear silver stripes without the “curl” and without edgings
of colored cloth.
Officers wear a sword on all occasions of dress and ceremony, but on
occasions of ordinary duty they wear a short dirk in place of the sword.
The warrant officers of the Russian Navy wear uniforms similar to
those worn by commissioned officers, the distinguishing mark being a
narrow gold stripe around the sleeves above the cuff.
Enlisted men wear black cloth trousers, a jersey with blue and white
horizontal stripes and a blue jumper.
The caps are similar to those worn by enlisted men of the British Navy.
The name of the ship is given on the cap ribbon as in other navies,
this ribbon being tied at the back so that it hangs down in streamers.
White duck uniforms of the same pattern as the blue ones are worn in
hot weather.
The ratings of petty officers are indicated by badges worn on the
sleeves above the elbow; these badges are at present being revised and
hence cannot be accurately given.
All enlisted men are provided with short overcoats of gray cloth.
UNIFORMS OF THE JAPANESE ARMY
Previous to the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-5 the officers and enlisted
men of the Japanese Army wore uniforms of dark blue or red cloth with
facings of distinctive colors for the various arms, but this proved so
conspicuous on the battlefields of that war that a service uniform of
khaki-colored cloth for winter and khaki cotton drill for summer was
adopted. The officers, however, retained for their dress uniforms the
old dress uniforms of dark blue and red cloth with heavy decorations of
gold lace.
The dress uniform of the officers consists of a dark blue double
breasted frock coat with standing collar; trousers of dark blue cloth
with stripes of the corps color down the outer leg seams for all arms
except the cavalry in which the officers wear red breeches; black
boots; and a _kepi_ style cap decorated with gold lace and having a
red and white standing plume at the front, this cap being of red cloth
for the cavalry and of blue cloth for the other arms.
The collar of the dress coat is covered with gold lace; the buttons
are gilt with a design of chrysanthemums and cherry blossoms; shoulder
knots of plaited gold cord and a sash belt of gold and red stripes
with heavy tassels at the left side are worn with it, and the rank is
indicated by sleeve decorations consisting of a knot made up of narrow
stripes of gold braid of the same design as that worn by officers of
the United States Army. This sleeve knot is made of one stripe for
Second Lieutenant and one additional stripe for each step up in grade
through the ranks of First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant
Colonel, Colonel, Major General, Lieutenant General and Field Marshal,
the latter having a knot of nine stripes.
The distinctive colors for the different arms of the service are
red for infantry, green for cavalry, yellow for artillery, crimson
for pioneers, gray for the quartermaster corps, and black for the
gendarmerie (national police).
The service uniforms for both officers and enlisted men consist of a
single-breasted sack coat of khaki-colored woolen cloth for winter and
cotton drill for summer; trousers or breeches of the same materials,
and a bell-crowned cap with sloping visor of tan leather and a band of
the distinctive color of the arm of the service.
The service coat has a standing collar with a patch of the distinctive
color for the arm of the service on each side of the neck opening, a
pocket with buttoned flap on each side of the breast and a plain pocket
on each side below the waist.
Officers wear breeches and boots when mounted and tan leather leggings
or khaki-colored wrap puttees for dismounted service. The shoes worn
by both officers and enlisted men with the service uniform are of tan
leather.
The rank of the officers is indicated by shoulder straps worn
transversely across the shoulders next to the shoulder seams of the
sleeves, after the style of the shoulder strap worn by officers of the
United States Army with their blue dress coats. These are the only two
great armies in which this form of shoulder strap is worn by officers
to indicate rank.
These shoulder straps are covered with cloth of the distinctive color
of the arm of the service with stripes of gold braid running lengthwise
of them on the same scheme as that used on the shoulder straps worn by
Japanese naval officers as illustrated, namely, for General officers
one wide stripe, for field officers two narrow stripes and for company
officers one narrow stripe. On the gold stripes silver stars are worn
for the different grades of rank in each class. The number of stripes
and stars for each grade is as follows:
_General Officers._
General Three stars on one wide gold stripe.
Lieutenant General Two stars on one wide gold stripe.
Major General One star on one wide gold stripe.
_Field Officers._
Colonel Three stars on two narrow gold stripes.
Lieutenant Colonel Two stars on two narrow gold stripes.
Major One star on two narrow gold stripes.
_Company Officers._
Captain Three stars on one narrow gold stripe.
First Lieutenant Two stars on one narrow gold stripe.
Second Lieutenant One star on one narrow gold stripe.
The rank of noncommissioned officers is shown by narrow stripes around
the cuffs, and for all enlisted men the arm of the service is indicated
by the color patches on each side of the collar and the regimental
number is worn upon these collar patches, Arabic figures being used for
the regular service, Roman numerals for the militia and Arabic figures
on one side of the collar and Roman on the other for the reserves.
The overcoat for officers is a double-breasted ulster similar to that
worn by American officers, and that for enlisted men is single-breasted
and short. The overcoats are of khaki-colored cloth.
The service belts for both officers and men are of tan leather.
UNIFORMS OF THE JAPANESE NAVY
When Japan began to build and man her modern navy she derived much
early training and experience from the British Navy, which was then as
now, the largest of the world’s navies.
As a result the uniforms of both the officers and men of the Japanese
Navy are similar in most respects to those of the British Navy. The
principal difference is that the Japanese naval officers’ undress or
service uniform coat is a single-breasted blouse with standing collar
similar to that worn by officers of the United States Navy, the collar
and edges being trimmed with black braid.
In the insignia of the Japanese Navy the cherry blossom usually takes
the place where the crown appears in the British naval insignia, as may
be seen by reference to the illustrations.
The uniforms for both officers and enlisted men are of dark blue cloth
for full dress and dress uniforms, the undress or service uniform being
of dark blue cloth for winter wear and of white cotton duck or linen
for wear in hot weather.
The rank of officers is indicated by stripes around the sleeves above
the cuff on the blue uniforms and by shoulder straps on the white
service uniform.
The sleeve stripes are of gold lace braid for full dress and dress
coats and of black braid for the blue service coat.
The number, width and arrangement of the sleeve stripes for the
different ranks are as shown in the accompanying illustration.
The corps or branch of the service to which an officer belongs is
shown by the circular curl above the upper stripe for officers of the
Line, and by stripes of colored cloth between the rank stripes for the
officers of the Staff Corps, the distinctive colors for the various
corps being as follows:—
Engineer Corps Purple.
(The officers of the Engineer Corps
also wear the curl above the upper
rank stripe, officers of the other
Staff Corps do not wear the curl.)
Medical Corps Red.
Engineer Constructors Brown.
Ordnance Constructors Maroon.
Paymaster Corps White.
Hydrographic Corps Light blue.
Chief Carpenter (warrant officers) Green.
Bandmasters (warrant officers) Gray.
These distinctive colors for officers of the different Staff Corps are
also worn around the bands of the caps.
[Illustration: Japanese Navy. Officers’ sleeve decorations indicating
rank
1. Admiral 2. Vice Admiral 3. Rear Admiral 4. Captain
5. Commander 6. Lt. Commander 7. Lieutenant 8. Sub Lt., 1st Class
9. Sub Lt., 2nd Class 10. Midshipman 11. Warrant Officer, Line
12. Warrant Officer, Engineers]
[Illustration: Japanese Navy. Officers’ shoulder straps showing rank,
summer service uniform
1. Admiral 2. Vice Admiral 3. Rear Admiral 4. Captain
5. Commander 6. Lt. Commander 7. Lieutenant 8. Sub Lt., 1st Class
9. Sub Lt., 2nd Class 10. Chief Warrant Officer 11. Warrant Officer
12. Midshipman]
The rank or rating of enlisted men who are petty officers or who are
assigned to special duties is shown by distinctive marks worn on the
left sleeve of the coat or overshirt; the principal ones being:—
Seaman An anchor.
Writers A writing brush.
Hospital Corps A pair of forceps.
Firemen A double pipe spanner.
Carpenter’s Mate An axe.
Stewards A key.
Musicians A lyre.
UNIFORMS OF THE AUSTRIAN ARMY
The Army of Austria-Hungary is made up of so many different races
and peoples each of whom have preserved something of their original
national dress or uniform in their modern dress uniforms that the
varieties in color, design and ornamentation are greater than in any
other country.
The field service uniform of all however is nearly the same and is made
of light gray cloth.
The officers’ service uniform consists of a single-breasted sack coat
with a standing collar, closed by a row of buttons down the front
concealed beneath a flap and having shoulder straps, patch pockets with
button flaps, one on each breast and one on each side below the waist;
breeches of the same color as the coat; leather puttees and shoes; and
a cap of gray cloth, cylindrical in shape with a soft top to the crown
and side flaps which are folded up around the band and secured by two
buttons in front, and having a sloping visor covered with the gray
cloth of the cap. This cap, known as a tschapka, is a distinguishing
feature of the Austrian uniform.
As variations of the field uniform the Hungarian regiments do not wear
leggings but have the trousers tight below the knees; the Alpine troops
wear heavy tan colored stockings instead of leggings and the Bosnia
troops wear a Turkish fez instead of the gray cap.
The rank of officers is indicated by insignia worn upon each side of
the collar. A Field Marshal has gold embroidery on the collar at each
side of the neck opening and two wide red stripes down the outer leg
seams of the trousers. General officers wear similar gold braid on the
collar with the grade of rank indicated by silver stars thereon as
follows:—
General Three silver stars.
Lieutenant General Two silver stars.
Major General One silver star.
Field officers have gold or silver braid on the collar according to
whether their buttons are of silver or gold. On gold braid they wear
silver stars and on silver braid gold stars to indicate the grade of
rank, as follows:—
Colonel Three stars.
Lieutenant Colonel Two stars.
Major One star.
Company officers have the collar decorated with cloth on each side of
the neck opening, the color being the distinctive color of their arm of
the service or regiment. The grade of rank is indicated by stars worn
on this colored cloth, the stars being of silver or gold to match the
gold or silver buttons worn according to the regiment:
Captain Three stars.
First Lieutenant Two stars.
Second Lieutenant One star.
The arm of the service is indicated by the color of the facings or
decorations on the uniform. The infantry have no regimental numbers
on their uniforms but a distinctive color for each group of four
regiments, each such group of the regular army having two Austrian and
two Hungarian regiments, the Austrian regiments wearing silver buttons
and the Hungarian regiments gilt buttons.
Chasseur regiments wear green facings or trimming and have the number
of the regiment on the buttons.
Dragoon regiments have distinguishing colors worn on the collars for
each two regiments, one regiment of each color wearing silver buttons
and the other gilt buttons.
Hussar and Uhlan regiments of cavalry have distinctive colors for each
two regiments as in the case of dragoon regiments but these colors are
also worn on the caps and the number of the regiment also appears on
the cap.
Artillery regiments have red facings and the buttons bear a gun and a
shell.
In the Austrian Reserves the infantry have green facings and trimmings
on their uniforms and the number of the regiment on the buttons and
shoulder straps, and the cavalry regiments have the regimental number
on the buttons only.
In the Hungarian Reserves the infantry regiments wear the regimental
number in dark gray cloth on the sides of the cap and the cavalry
regiments wear their number in yellow cloth on the cap.
The rank of noncommissioned officers is indicated by white stars of
celluloid worn on the distinctive color patches of the collar, as
follows:—
Sergeant Major Three white stars.
Sergeant Two white stars.
Corporal One white star.
With service uniform officers wear tan leather belts with suspender
straps across one or both shoulders and the enlisted men wear belts and
cartridge boxes of tan leather. General and Staff officers wear the
sword slung from a belt beneath the coat and a sash of gold and black
silk.
The overcoat for officers is a double-breasted ulster with gilt or
silver buttons the same as worn on the service coat and collar patches
and pipings of the distinctive corps or regimental color; or a long
circular cape cloak with a turn-over collar upon which the color
patches are worn.
The overcoat of the enlisted man is a double-breasted long ulster with
standing-falling collar, buttons of silver or gilt to match those worn
on the service coat and color patches on the collar.
Enlisted men wear the trousers tucked into the tops of the shoes or in
the case of the Alpine troops into the tops of heavy woolen socks of
khaki color.
A distinctive feature of the Alpine troops is a small plume of eagle’s
feathers worn on the left side of the cap.
Various insignia to indicate special duties or assignments are worn by
enlisted men upon the left sleeve, some of them being:—
Telegraphist A wreath surrounding a device representing
three bolts of lightning crossed
with a crown above them.
Medical Corps A circle surrounding a Geneva cross in red.
Gun pointer Two cannon crossed surmounted by a
crown surrounded by a wreath.
Pioneer A medallion bearing a pick and two
spades crossed.
Wagon driver A wreath surrounding two horses’ heads.
In the trenches steel trench helmets of the German pattern are worn by
both officers and enlisted men.
In very cold weather fur coats are worn and in the snows of the
mountains white coats are worn to make the troops less conspicuous.
Enlisted men wear on the left sleeve a triangle of yellow braid to show
long service, one stripe for four years, two stripes for seven years
and three stripes for nine years.
UNIFORMS OF THE AUSTRIAN NAVY
The uniforms of the officers and enlisted men of the Austrian Navy are
of dark blue cloth for winter wear and of white duck for hot weather
and are generally similar to those worn in the British Navy.
Commissioned officers are provided with special full dress, full dress,
undress, blue service, white service and white mess uniforms.
The special full dress uniform (gala dress) consists of a cocked
hat of the same shape as the one worn in the United States Navy but
having more gold braid on it; a short double-breasted frock coat with
a standing collar; epaulets; dark blue trousers with gold stripes
down the outer leg seams; a sash belt of black cloth with interwoven
horizontal gilt stripes and a knot and tassels of gold on the right
hip; and black shoes. The collar of the coat and the cuffs are trimmed
with gold lace braid, the sword is worn suspended by slings from a belt
worn beneath the coat, and the rank of the officer is indicated by
insignia worn upon the collar and upon the tops of the epaulets.
The full dress consists of the cocked hat; a double-breasted frock coat
with turn-down collar and notched lapels; epaulets; trousers the same
as for the special full dress; and black shoes. The sash belt is also
worn with this uniform.
The undress uniform consists of a bell-crowned cap of dark blue cloth
with a black mohair braid band, sloping visor of black patent leather,
gold chin strap above the visor and the rank indicated by narrow gold
stripes around the black band; the frock coat worn without epaulets;
plain dark blue trousers and black shoes. White trousers and a cap with
the upper portion of the crown white are some times worn with this
uniform. The sash belt is not worn with this uniform, the sword being
suspended by slings from a belt worn beneath the coat.
The blue service dress consists of the blue or white cap; a square cut
double-breasted sack coat similar to that worn in the British Navy;
plain trousers of dark blue cloth or white duck, and black shoes. When
on duty with troops ashore the sword belt is worn outside of this coat.
The white service uniform consists of a white cap or white helmet; a
white coat with shoulder straps of the same design as the white service
coat worn by the United States naval officer except that there is a
patch pocket with flap and button on each side below the waist. When
under arms the sword is worn suspended by slings from a belt beneath
the coat and the gold and black sash belt is worn outside of the coat.
The mess uniform consists of a white mess jacket upon which the
shoulder straps are worn; a white waistcoat; dark blue plain trousers,
and black shoes. There is no blue mess jacket and no evening dress
coat.
[Illustration: Austrian Navy. Officers’ sleeve decorations indicating
rank
1. Admiral 2. Vice Admiral 3. Rear Admiral 4. Captain
5. Commander 6. Senior Lieutenant 7. Lieutenant 8. Sub Lieutenant
9. Midshipman 10. Naval Cadet 11. Surgeon General
12. Staff Officer with rank of Rear Admiral]
With the frock coat uniforms a plain black silk necktie is worn tied in
a flat double-bow knot.
The rank is indicated on the frock coat and upon the blue service coat
by stripes of gold lace upon the sleeves above the cuff. In the case of
officers of flag rank a gold Austrian Imperial crown is worn above the
stripes. These stripes for the different grades of rank are shown in
the accompanying illustration.
On the white service coat the rank is indicated by stripes upon the
shoulder straps in the same manner as in the United States Navy, these
stripes being of the same number, widths and arrangements as upon the
sleeves of the frock and service coats.
The corps or branch of the service to which an officer belongs is
indicated by the “curl” in the upper stripe of the rank stripes upon
the sleeve and shoulder strap, and by stripes of colored silk between
the gold rank stripes for the different Staff corps. These distinctive
colors for the different corps or branches are:—
Engineers Gray.
Medical officers Black.
Naval Constructors Crimson.
Paymasters Light blue.
Professors Dark blue.
White gloves are prescribed for all uniforms.
Medical officers of flag rank wear an eight-pointed gold star above
the rank stripes on the sleeves, other Staff officers of flag rank
wear a four-circle rosette there, and Medical officers wear as a
distinctive device on the shoulder strap over the rank stripes the rod
of Esculapius entwined with a serpent in silver.
Midshipmen at the Naval Academy wear a dark blue double-breasted
round-about jacket with a turn-down collar and two rows of gilt buttons
down the front, a straight visored blue cap, dark blue trousers and
black shoes, for dress and a uniform similar to that worn by the
seamen, for work and drills.
Chief Warrant officers and Warrant officers wear dress and service
uniforms like those of commissioned officers, and Chief Petty officers
wear similar uniforms to those of Warrant officers except that the
specialty or branch marks are worn on the sleeves between the elbow
and the shoulder. The rank of Chief Warrant officers, Warrant officers
and Chief Petty officers is indicated by gold stripes upon the sleeves
above the cuffs as follows:—
Chief Warrant officer Three one-half inch stripes.
Warrant officer Two one-half inch stripes.
Chief Petty officer One stripe three-sixteenths of
an inch wide.
The uniforms of the enlisted men are of the usual sailor cut common
to the navies of most naval powers. The blue uniform consists of a
dark blue flat cap with the name of the ship in gilt upon a cap ribbon
around the band; a loose jumper worn over a tight jersey, and trousers
of the sailor cut with wide spring at the bottoms of the legs. The
white uniforms consist of a white flat cap, white duck jumper and white
trousers.
The rating is indicated by stars in the corners of the wide collar.
These stars are of a material resembling celluloid and first class
petty officers wear three such stars in each corner of the collar,
second class petty officers two stars and first class seamen one star.
The branch of the service or the special duty detail of an enlisted
man is indicated by a specialty mark worn on the left sleeve midway
between the elbow and the shoulder, petty officers wearing a crown
above the specialty mark, these marks being as follows:—
Deck force A vertical foul anchor.
Engineroom and Fireroom force A three-bladed propeller.
Quartermasters (Wheelmen) An anchor with a steering wheel
on the shank.
Writers Two swords crossed.
Torpedomen An anchor with a bursting
bomb on the shank.
Gunnery force An anchor with two cannon
crossed on the shank.
Radio men An anchor with bars of zig-zag
lightning across the shank.
Mining force A ship’s anchor with a mine
anchor crossing it.
Band musicians A lyre.
Hospital attendants A Geneva cross.
Cooks and stewards Two blades of wheat crossed.
For Chief Petty officers these specialty marks are in gold embroidery
and for others in yellow for blue coats and jumper shirts and for all
ratings they are in black for white coats and jumpers.
Aviation pilots, both officers and men, wear the aviation insignia on
the right breast. This insignia is of silver and consists of a wreath
of leaves surmounted by an Imperial crown with a spread eagle across
the wreath.
UNIFORMS OF THE GERMAN NAVY
The uniforms of the officers and men of the German Navy are made of
dark blue cloth for winter wear and of white duck for hot weather as in
other navies and in general they follow the lines of other navies, but
there are several distinctive features. The officers have no special
full dress coat with the cutaway skirts or swallow-tail effect, a frock
coat taking its place; and the enlisted men have in addition to the
ordinary sailor shirts with the wide falling collar a dress jacket
reaching to the waist line and roached over the hips like the jackets
of the American midshipmen. This jacket has a row of small buttons down
each side of the front and also on each cuff and is worn unbuttoned
with the falling collar of the shirt outside of it.
The commissioned officers have full dress, dress, blue service and
white service uniforms.
The full dress uniform consists of a cocked hat similar to that worn
by British naval officers; a long double-breasted frock coat; trousers
with gold lace stripes down the outer leg seams; black shoes; a sword
belt covered with silver and gold lace with a wide red stripe running
through it, and epaulets or shoulder knots depending upon the rank and
corps of the officer. A distinctive feature of this full dress frock
coat is that while it has a standing collar trimmed with gold lace, the
front is provided with wide triangular lapels covered with color facing
indicating the corps or branch of the service to which the wearer
belongs.
The dress uniform consists of a bell-crowned cap of dark blue cloth
with a braid of the distinctive corps around the band and a distinctive
insignia on the front; a frock coat like that of the British or
American naval officer; with which shoulder knots are worn; plain dark
blue trousers, and black shoes. With this uniform the same sword belt
is worn as with the full dress but instead of the sword a short sword
or dirk is worn. As a variation of this uniform the cocked hat is
sometimes worn with it for special occasions.
The blue service uniform consists of the blue cap; a double-breasted
square cut sack like that worn by British officers; plain dark blue
trousers, and black shoes. A plain black double-bow knot tie is worn
with this uniform.
The white service uniform consists of a white cap of the same design
as the blue cap but with a black band and black visor as in the United
States and British navies; a white single-breasted sack coat with
standing collar, a patch pocket on the left breast and a patch pocket
on each side below the waist; white trousers, and black or white
shoes depending upon the occasion. The dirk is worn with this uniform
suspended from a black leather belt worn beneath the coat. Shoulder
straps showing the rank are worn on the white service coat.
The overcoat is a long double-breasted coat cut to fit the figure,
buttoning to the neck, with a wide falling collar and an outside pocket
with flap on each side below the waist. It is closed by gilt buttons,
one row down each side.
Following the universal military custom, the rank of German naval
officers is indicated on the blue uniforms by stripes worn upon
the sleeves of the coat just above the cuff. The number, width and
arrangement of these stripes are shown in the accompanying illustration.
On the full dress coat sleeves there is a vertical three-pointed strap
on the outside over the rank stripes, its color being the distinctive
color for the corps to which the wearer belongs.
The rank is also indicated by insignia upon the tops of the epaulets
and shoulder knots. The tops of the epaulets are of the distinctive
colors of the corps except those for officers of the Line which are of
gold. The lower grade in each branch has no fringe of bullion on the
epaulets.
The stripes indicating the rank of officers of the Line are sewn
directly upon the cloth of the coat sleeves and have a German Imperial
crown above the upper stripe. Officers of the Staff corps do not wear
the crown above their rank stripes. The corps or branch of the service
to which officers of the Staff corps belong is indicated by stripes of
colored cloth worn between the stripes indicating the rank, and the
distinctive colors are:—
Engineer officers Black.
Gunnery officers Dark gray.
Torpedo officers Dark gray.
Medical officers Dark blue.
Naval Constructors Black.
Paymasters Light blue.
Legal Department officers Red.
Pilot officers Light gray.
Dockyard Construction officers Black.
The insignia worn upon the cap for commissioned officers is a gold
wreath surrounding a circular emblem made up of concentric circles of
red, white and black (from the center out) and surmounted by the German
Imperial crown. This medallion is also worn upon the center of the
front of the enlisted men’s flat caps.
These distinctive corps colors are also worn as the “facings” on the
full dress uniforms, that is on the lapels of the coat and on the
three-pointed straps on the cuffs, and around the band of the service
cap, blue and white, except that pilots wear a gold band on the cap.
Warrant officers in the German Navy wear a dress uniform and a
service uniform both blue and white similar in design to that worn
by commissioned officers, with their distinctive rank stripes on the
sleeves and on the shoulder straps.
[Illustration: German Navy. Officers’ sleeve decorations indicating rank
1. Grand Admiral 2. Admiral 3. Vice Admiral 4. Rear Admiral
5. Captain 6. Commander 7. Senior Lieutenant 8. Junior Lieutenant
9. Sub Lieutenant]
In the German Navy there is a rank intermediate between that of Warrant
officers and Chief Petty officers which has no counterpart in the
American Navy. This is called Feldwebel. His dress uniform is a blue
cap; a short dark blue jacket with rolling lapel collar and a row of
small gilt buttons down each side of the front; a blue waistcoat with
gilt buttons, and plain dark blue trousers; and his service uniforms,
both blue and white, are similar to those of other officers. On the
cuffs of the dress jacket he has three narrow gold stripes around the
sleeve close together and below them three similar stripes around the
sleeve and continuing down the outer seam to the bottom edge of the
sleeve, with a vertical strap of dark blue cloth across the stripes
with six small gilt buttons on it.
The Bandmaster is a Warrant officer and the distinctive mark of his
rank is a gold lyre on the center of his shoulder straps.
The uniforms of the enlisted men are the dress or “parade” uniform, the
service uniform and the white uniform.
The dress uniform consists of a sailor flat cap; a white sailor shirt
with wide dark blue falling collar; the dark blue dress jacket worn
with the collar of the shirt outside of it, and dark blue trousers, the
trousers being cut without the wide “spring” or flare at the bottom of
the legs so common in other navies.
The blue cap is similar to that worn in other navies but the crown is
higher in the front than in the back, which tends to give it a military
appearance. The name of the ship or station is worn upon a cap ribbon
around the band of the cap, the ends of the ribbon being tied at the
back and allowed to fall down the back in streamers. Upon the front
of the crown at the center is the red, white and black medallion, the
colors of Germany.
The collar of the shirt has three rows of narrow white braid around the
edges as in the American and British navies.
The service uniform consists of the blue cap; a dark blue shirt similar
to that worn in the American Navy, and dark blue trousers.
The white service uniform is of the same design but of white duck
instead of dark blue cloth or flannel.
The rank or rating and the branch of specialty is indicated by
distinctive marks worn upon the left sleeve between the elbow and the
shoulder. Some of the principal of these marks are:—
Feldwebel A vertical gold anchor with a
gold crown above it.
Chief Quartermaster Two gold anchors crossed with
a crown above them. (If certified
he wears a red chevron
of one stripe below the mark.)
Quartermaster Two gold anchors crossed.
Chief Boatswain’s Mate A vertical gold foul anchor with
a crown above it.
Boatswain’s Mate The same without the crown.
Chief Gunner’s Mate A vertical foul anchor with two
cannon crossed upon it surmounted
by a crown, in gold.
Gunner’s Mate The same without the crown.
Chief Machinist’s Mate A vertical anchor with a cog
wheel on the shank and a
crown above it, in silver.
Machinist’s Mate The same without the crown.
Chief Stoker’s Mate A vertical anchor with two
shovels crossed on the shank
and a crown above it, in silver.
Stoker’s Mate The same without the crown.
Chief Torpedoist’s Mate An anchor and a mine crossed
with a crown above it, in gold.
Torpedoist’s Mate The same without the crown.
Chief Radio Operator A vertical anchor with a crown
above it, in gold, with a zig-zag
of lightning in red across
the shank of the anchor.
Radio Operator The same without the crown.
Telegraphist Two bars of forked lightning
crossed, in gold.
Chief Signal Mate A vertical anchor with a crown
above it, in gold, and two signal
flags in red crossed on the
shank of the anchor.
Signal Mate The same without the crown.
Drill Sergeant A vertical anchor with two rifles
crossed on the shank and a
crown above it, in gold.
Drill Corporal The same without the crown.
Leading Seaman A yellow chevron of one stripe,
point down.
Bandsman, first class A chevron of two stripes with a
curl at the point of the upper
stripe and an anchor surcharged
by a lyre above it, in gold.
Second Leader of Band The same with a crown above it.
Gun Captain, first class A flaming shell above a chevron of
three stripes, point down, in red.
Gun Captain, second class The same but with two stripes
in the chevron.
Gun Captain, third class The same but with one stripe in
the chevron.
Machine Gun Captain The same without the chevron.
Range Finder A triangle with a flaming shell
in the center and a range finding
instrument above it, in red.
Submarine Mine Planter A submarine mine in red.
(The Gun Captains, Range Finders, and Mine Planters
of the Marine Artillery, who man the coast defense
guns, wear the same rating marks in yellow. In
Germany the coast defenses, forts and batteries are
manned by the Navy and not by the Army as in the
United States.)
The overcoat worn by enlisted men of the German Navy is a short double
breasted pilot coat with turn-down lapel collar and a double row of
gilt service buttons down the front.
For service ashore in landing parties and when on duty at the coast
forts in hot weather or tropics, a khaki helmet is worn instead of the
white hat with white uniforms and khaki canvas leggings are also worn.
For landing parties as infantry or artillery black leather boots are
worn with the blue uniforms, the trousers being tucked inside of the
boots.
UNIFORMS OF GERMAN MARINES
The German Marines are a part of the Navy and are divided into Marine
Infantry and Marine Field Artillery. They perform duties similar in
many respects to the duties of the United States Marine Corps.
The full dress uniform of the officers consists of a black shako with
a large red plume which falls over the front down to the visor; a blue
single-breasted tunic with standing collar; epaulets without bullion
fringes; breeches of the same color, and black boots. The front edges
of the coat and the tops and bottoms of the collar are piped with white
cloth and the cuffs are of white cloth with a vertical strap.
The service uniform is of gray cloth and consists of a bell-crowned cap
with a white band and sloping visor of black leather; a single-breasted
coat with a standing turn-over collar closed by buttons down the front
concealed by a fly; breeches, and leggings and shoes of tan leather.
The coat has a pocket with flap on each side below the waist. Shoulder
straps are worn with the service coat.
The rank of the officer is indicated by insignia worn upon the epaulets
and shoulder straps, the insignia being the same as for the German Army
officers.
For hot weather a uniform of khaki cotton drill is provided, the
general style being the same as for the cloth service uniform except
that the head dress is a khaki-colored helmet.
The dress uniform of the enlisted men is similar in color and design
to that worn by the officers, the epaulets being replaced by shoulder
straps of white cloth. The service uniform of the enlisted men is of
the same design as that for officers except that the coat is closed by
a single row of gilt buttons and the cap has no visor.
UNIFORMS OF THE GERMAN ARMY
The peace time uniforms of the various corps and arms of the German
Army present a great variety, the traditions of the services of the
former separate kingdoms and political divisions that are now united
to form the German Empire being preserved in many instances in the
color and design of the uniform or in the bright metal decorations and
insignia.
Many of these uniforms are gaudy in color and richly decorated with
gold, silver and colored cloth and braid ornaments.
The facings colors worn upon the collars and cuffs and as pipings on
the coats and trousers often vary with the individual regiments, and
the headdress is in many shapes and colors.
The Line Infantry wear a black helmet with brass spike, Prussian eagle
and scale chin strap; a blue single-breasted tunic with gilt buttons,
and dark gray trousers; the facings and piping being red, but the
infantry regiments of Saxony, Bavaria, Wurttemburg and some other
states have variations from this in both color and design.
The Uhlans wear the Czapka helmet; a blue double-breasted tunic with
a red plastron front and red facings; and dark gray trousers; the
Prussian Hussars wear a black fur busby with heavy gilt decorations
and a bag of the distinctive color of the facings, a single-breasted
blue tunic heavily decorated with white braid, loops and frogs; a blue
pelisse with white braid decorations slung from the left shoulder; dark
gray tight fitting breeches with white braid decorations, and black
Hessian boots with embroidered tops.
The Prussian Cuirassiers wear white uniforms with black hip boots and
cuirasses of brass or iron, the iron being black for some regiments and
bright for others.
The Saxon Jager regiments wear uniforms of green cloth and a cap with a
feather plume.
The Prussian Dragoon regiments wear helmets with drooping white plumes,
light blue jackets, dark gray breeches.
The Field Artillery regiments usually wear black helmets with a spike
ending in a brass ball; dark blue coats with gilt buttons, dark gray
breeches and black boots.
There are many other distinctive uniforms and the varied colors,
bright trappings and decorations and waving plumes made a peace time
assemblage of German troops of all arms a most imposing sight; but
early in the present century the leaders realized that while all this
gaudy panoply and pomp added to the attractiveness of the service,
kept alive the traditions of the past, and aided in holding the esprit
de corps, it would not do for service on the modern battlefield, where
the troops must be as inconspicuous as possible to avoid annihilation
under the drum fire of artillery and the rapid fire of machine guns.
As a result a field service uniform of a dull gray color was adopted
for all arms but it was not generally issued to the troops until just
before the opening of the present world war.
The German officer’s field service uniform consists of a gray single
breasted sack coat with a standing turn-over collar; breeches of
the same color and black or tan leather boots. With this uniform
the old bright helmets are worn with a gray cover to make them less
conspicuous, or in many cases a gray cap with sloping visor is worn.
The buttons are of gilt allowed to become dull in the field, in some
cases of leather or bone, and in other cases the coat is closed by
buttons concealed beneath a fly.
The corps and regimental colors are worn in small patches on the collar
at each side of the neck opening and also as cuff stripes in some
corps. In some corps the distinctive color is also worn around the cap
band.
The rank of the German officer is indicated by the braid and insignia
on flat shoulder straps covered with braided cord. The shoulder strap
for Field Marshal and for General officers is covered with a plaited
knot made up of five loops of sets of three cords, the two outer
cords being gold and the central cord being silver interwoven with
the imperial colors in silk. The shoulder straps for Field officers
(Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and Majors) are of the same design
except that the cords are in sets of two, both of silver interwoven
with the silk colors. The shoulder straps of the company officers are
covered with parallel rows of silver cord interwoven with the silk
colors.
The insignia of rank worn upon the shoulder straps on top of the cord
decorations are diamond shaped ornaments of gilt metal, and although
they do not have the conventional shape of a star they are called stars
in the German service.
These insignias are as follows for the various grades of rank:—
Field Marshal Two gold batons crossed.
Colonel General Three stars.
General Two stars.
Lieutenant General One star.
Major General No insignia, the shoulder strap
knot being plain.
Colonel Two stars.
Lieutenant Colonel One star.
Major No insignia.
Captain Two stars.
First Lieutenant One star.
Second Lieutenant No insignia.
There is no corresponding rank in the armies of other nations for the
German rank of Colonel General, and in the German Army there is no rank
of Brigadier General.
In the German Army a Feldwebel is an officer between the commissioned
officers and the enlisted men, his rank corresponds to that of the
Warrant Officers in the United States Navy and Marine Corps. He wears
a double cord upon the shoulders and his rank insignia is a circular
medallion with a Prussian eagle on each side of the collar.
The German officer’s overcoat is a heavy ulster of the same gray color
as the field uniform; it is double-breasted and the rank of the wearer
is indicated by the shoulder straps as in the case of the service coat.
[Illustration: German Army. Officers’ shoulder strap insignia
indicating rank
1. Field Marshal 6. Colonel 2. Colonel General
7. Lieutenant Colonel 3. General 8. Major 4. Lieutenant General
9. Captain 5. Major General 10. First Lieutenant
11. Second Lieutenant]
[Illustration: _Photo. Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
Roumanian Army. Officers’ service uniform]
The enlisted men of the German Army wear a service uniform of the same
color and general design as that of the officers. The ordinary field
cap is a round loose crowned cap without visor, the coat is a single
breasted sack with a standing turn-over collar, and the trousers are of
the same gray cloth as the coat. Boots of black or tan leather are worn.
Noncommissioned officers wear a stripe of braid around the cuff and
the front edges of the collar at the neck opening and for a short
distance along the top of the collar back from the neck opening. A
Sergeant Major wears a stripe of narrow braid above the noncommissioned
officer’s sleeve stripe.
The enlisted men’s overcoat is a heavy ulster buttoning to the neck
with a standing-falling collar, the rank of noncommissioned officers
being indicated by the sleeve braid as for the service coat and by
patches of color at the front of the collar.
Steel trench helmets are worn in the trenches by both officers and
men, this helmet being larger than that worn by the American, British
and French troops and having a flaring extension at the rear for the
protection of the neck.
UNIFORMS OF THE ROUMANIAN ARMY
The dress and service uniforms of the Roumanian Army are very similar
to those of the Austrian Army and the field uniform is of khaki-colored
cloth with the facings, pipings and rank insignia of the dress uniforms
added.
FOREIGN WAR DECORATIONS AND MEDALS
The multiplicity of medals and decorations in all foreign countries
makes it very difficult to distinguish one from another, especially
since the designs and ribbons used by different countries are
frequently quite similar. To describe all of these decorations is not
practicable within the scope of this volume, but a few of the ones
which are classed as distinctively war decorations are included as they
are the ones most commonly seen and talked about.
_French War Medals._—The French decorations given for war service are
the _Legion d’honneur_ (Legion of Honor), the _Medaille Militaire_
(Military Medal) and the _Croix de Guerre_ (War Cross).
The Legion of Honor was inaugurated by Napoleon I at Les Invalides
on July 15, 1804, and the medals and ribbons were bestowed upon both
soldiers and civilians. The medal consists of a white star with five
double rays; the center of the star, surrounded by a wreath of oak and
laurel, bearing on the obverse the head of the Republic surrounded
by the words, “République Française, 1870,” and on the reverse two
tri-colored flags with the words, “Honneur et Patrie.” Above the star
is a small gold wreath and the ribbon is red.
_The Medaille Militaire_, created by Prince Louis Napoleon in January,
1852, may be bestowed upon Generals and Admirals who have been
ministers of the state cabinet or commanders in chief, commanders of
Army Corps who have presided over the Superior Council of War and the
greatest of the war leaders of France. It is of silver, twenty-eight
millimeters in diameter, surmounted by a trophy of arms in silver and
suspended by a yellow ribbon with green stripes at the edges. The
obverse of the medal bears the head of the Republic surrounded by the
words, “République Française, 1870,” and the reverse the words, “Valeur
et Discipline.”
_The Croix de Guerre_, established by law on April 8, 1915, is awarded
to soldiers and sailors of all ranks in the service of France and her
Allies who perform individual acts of gallantry in operations against
the enemy during the present war and are mentioned for such acts in
official despatches. The cross is of Florentine bronze, four-armed
with two crossed swords between the arms, and is surcharged at the
center with a medallion bearing the head of the Republic surrounded by
the inscription “République Française” on the obverse and the dates
“1914-1915” on the reverse side. The ribbon is green with seven narrow
red stripes.
_British War Medals._—In Great Britain there are three orders which may
be bestowed upon officers by the King—the Order of the Bath, the Order
of St. Michael and St. George and the Distinguished Service Order;
five crosses or medals which may be awarded to officers or enlisted
men of the land forces—the Victoria Cross, the Military Cross, the
Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Military Medal and the Meritorious
Service Medal; and four crosses or medals which may be bestowed upon
officers and enlisted men of the sea forces—the Victoria Cross, the
Distinguished Service Cross (corresponding to the Military Cross), the
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (corresponding to the Distinguished Conduct
Medal), and the Distinguished Service Medal (corresponding to the
Military Medal).
Of all of these the one most highly prized by officers and enlisted men
alike both on sea and land is the Victoria Cross, which is awarded
individually to an officer or enlisted man of the Navy or Army for some
signal act of valor and devotion to his country in the presence of the
enemy and during action. Whenever it is possible to do so the V. C. is
presented in person by the sovereign.
_The Victoria Cross._—This decoration consists of a bronze cross pattée
with raised edges and it was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856
during the Crimean War. On the obverse of the cross at the center it
is surcharged with a Royal crown surmounted by a lion passant gardant
and below the crown there is a semicircular scroll bearing the words,
“For Valour.” On the reverse side is engraved the date of its bestowal.
The cross is suspended from a ribbon by means of a bar clasp ornamented
with laurel leaves and a link in the shape of the letter “V,” and the
name, rank and regiment or ship of the recipient is engraved on the
reverse side of the clasp. The ribbon is red for the Army and blue for
the Navy.
_The Distinguished Service Order._—This order was established in 1886
to reward officers of the military and naval services for meritorious
or distinguished service in the field before the enemy. It is a gold
cross pattée convexed, enamelled white and edged with bright gold.
At the center on one side is a wreath of laurel enamelled in green
surrounding the Imperial crown enamelled in red, and on the other side
at the center a similar wreath surrounding the Royal cypher “G.R.” The
ribbon is red edged with blue.
_The Distinguished Service Cross._—This is a plain silver cross pattée
convexed. On the obverse at the center enclosed within a raised circle
is the Imperial cypher “G.R.I.” surmounted by the crown, while the
reverse side is plain. The ribbon is blue, white, blue.
[Illustration: _Copyright, Bailey, Banks & Biddle Co., Phila., Pa._
FOREIGN DECORATIONS AND MEDALS
1. Victoria Cross, Great Britain
2. Distinguished Service Order, Great Britain
3. Legion of Honor, France 4. Military Medal, France]
[Illustration: Croix de Guerre (War Cross), France]
_The Conspicuous Gallantry Medal._—The medal, established during the
Crimean War, is of silver, with the effigy of the reigning sovereign
on one side and a laurel wreath encircling the words, “For Conspicuous
Gallantry,” surmounted by a crown on the other side. It is awarded to
Warrant Officers, Midshipmen, Naval Cadets and Clerks in the Royal Navy
for conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy. The ribbon is
blue, white, blue.
_The Distinguished Service Medal._—This medal was established October
14, 1914, to reward petty officers and men of the Royal Navy and
noncommissioned officers and men of the Royal Marines for courageous
service in action during the present war. It is of silver and the
obverse bears the effigy of King George V., while the reverse bears a
wreath encircling the words, “For Distinguished Service,” surmounted by
a crown. The ribbon is blue with two narrow white stripes through the
center.
_The Military Cross._—This decoration was established in December,
1914, to reward captains, lieutenants and warrant officers of the Army
for deeds of valor or distinguished services in the present war. The
cross is of silver and each arm bears the Imperial crown while at the
center the Imperial cypher “G.R.I.” appears. The ribbon is white, blue,
white.
_The Military Medal._—This silver medal was authorized by the King
in March, 1916, to be awarded to officers and enlisted men of the
Army for conspicuous bravery in the field after recommendation by the
commanding general in the field. Its obverse bears the Royal effigy and
the reverse a wreath encircling the words, “For Bravery in the Field,”
surmounted by a crown. The ribbon is blue, white, blue, with two narrow
rod stripes through the central white stripe.
_Belgian War Medals._—The decorations and medals awarded in Belgium
for war service embrace the Order of Leopold, the _Croix Militaire_
(Military Cross), the _Medaille Militaire_ (Military Medal), the _Ordre
de la Courenne_ (Order of the Crown), the Order of Leopold II., the
Belgian War Cross and the Medal of Queen Elizabeth.
_The Order of Leopold._—This order was instituted by King Leopold I. in
1832, to “reward services rendered to the country.” It is only bestowed
upon officers of high rank except in very exceptional cases. It
consists of a white enamelled Maltese cross resting upon a green wreath
of oak and laurel, surmounted by two crossed swords and a Royal crown.
On the obverse at the center is a gold lion rampant on a black circular
ground surrounded by the words, “L’Union fait la force.” The color of
the ribbon is Royal purple.
_The Belgian War Cross._—This cross is made of bronze and is modelled
after the French _Croix de Guerre_. It is bestowed upon officers
and men who are mentioned in General Orders for conspicuous acts of
gallantry in the field during the present war. It was established
October 25, 1915.
_The Medal of Queen Elizabeth._—This medal, founded by resolution of
September 9, 1916, is bestowed in the name of the Queen upon Belgians
or foreigners who have devoted themselves to war work in Belgium.
_Italian War Medals._—In Italy there are four Orders, the Order of
Annunziata, the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, the Military
Order of Savoy, and the Order of the Crown of Italy; and a number of
military and naval medals, including the Sardinian Medal of the Crimea,
the Order of the Thousand of Garibaldi fame, the Medal Commemorating
the Unity of Italy, the Medal of the African Campaign, the Medal of the
Extreme Orient and the Messina Medal, the latter given to those who
distinguished themselves at the time of the Messina earthquake in 1908.
_The Order of Savoy._—This military order was founded by Victor
Emmanuel I. in 1815, to reward services in war on land and sea, and its
cross is highly prized. It consists of a white enamelled cross resting
upon an enamelled wreath and surmounted by a gold trophy of arms and
flags. At the center is a cross surrounded by the words, “Al Merito
Militare.” The ribbon is dark blue with a broad red stripe.
_The Order of the Crown of Italy._—This order was created in 1868
by Victor Emmanuel II. to reward Italians and foreigners who render
conspicuous services to Italy. The cross is of white enamel resting on
gold scrolls and bears at the center an iron crown. It is awarded to
officers of high rank for services in war.
_The Medal for Military Valor._—This medal of two classes, gold and
silver, corresponds to the French _Croix de Guerre_, and is awarded to
soldiers and sailors for conspicuous acts of gallantry in action in the
presence of the enemy. The gold medal is very rarely bestowed except as
an honor to the memory of a soldier or sailor who has lost his life in
the execution of the deed which the medal commemorates. The ribbon is
blue.
_Japanese War Medals._—Japan has several orders, the first and best
known one being the Order of the Rising Sun, created in 1876. It is
the great national Japanese order and is divided into eight classes,
being awarded to officials, officers and rarely to civilians. In the
military and naval services the first six classes are awarded to
officers and the last two to enlisted men. The decoration consists of a
medallion enshrined _a cabochon garnet_, placed in the center of eight
white enamelled rays bezelled in gold and silver, and it is suspended
from a gold paulownia leaf. The ribbon is white with narrow red edges.
_The Order of the Golden Kite._—This order was founded by Emperor
Mutsuhito in 1891, to reward acts of especial bravery in battle on land
or sea. The decoration consists of a blue enamelled cross surrounded by
clustered rays of red enamel, surcharged upon a silver sword from the
guard of which rises a golden kite. The ribbon is green with a narrow
white stripe near each edge.
In addition to the decorations of the orders there are a number of war
medals in bronze awarded to officers and men for participation in the
campaigns of the war with China and the war with Russia.
_War Medals of Germany._—Germany has many orders and medals but the
one best known as a war medal is the Iron Cross, founded in 1813, to
be given to both soldiers and civilians for services to the country.
It was revived in 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War. The decoration
consists of a black iron cross pattée with a silver edge. At the center
is the letter “W”, on the upper arm a crown and on the lower arm the
date 1870 for the crosses awarded in that year and 1914 for those
awarded in the present war. There are three classes in the order, the
size of the cross varying with the class. The ribbon is black with
white stripes near each edge for medals awarded to soldiers or sailors
and the reverse for those awarded to civilians. The Iron Cross has been
lavishly bestowed upon soldiers and sailors in the present war.
[Illustration: _Copyright, Bailey, Banks & Biddle Co., Phila., Pa._
FOREIGN DECORATIONS AND MEDALS
1. Military Order of Savoy, Italy 2. Order of Leopold, Belgium
3. Order of St. James of the Sword, Portugal
4. Order of the White Eagle, Serbia]
[Illustration: _Copyright, Bailey, Banks & Biddle Co., Phila., Pa._
FOREIGN DECORATIONS AND MEDALS
1. Order of Francis Joseph, Austria 2. Iron Cross, Germany
3. Order of Medjidie, Turkey 4. Order of St. Alexander, Bulgaria]
_Austrian War Medals._—Austria has many orders and decorations, the
Order of Francis Joseph being frequently conferred upon high officers
for conspicuous service in war. In addition there are distinguished
service medals of gold, silver and bronze, according to the importance
of the service rewarded, gold and silver medals for bravery in action,
and, for services in war alone, the War Decoration for officers and the
War Medal for enlisted men.
_Turkish War Medals._—Turkey has awarded many decorations and medals
upon her own soldiers and sailors as well as upon those of her allies
in different wars and upon citizens of other nations in peace time. The
best known of her orders are the Order of the Medjidie and the Order of
Osmanieh.
_The Order of the Medjidie._—The decoration of this order consists of
a seven-pointed star of cut silver, each point being composed of five
rays. Between the points there are seven small crescents and stars and
at the center on a gold background is the Sultan’s cypher surrounded by
a circle of red enamel bearing an inscription in Turkish.
[Illustration: SEAL OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS]