The uniforms and insignia of the armies and navies of foreign powers present such a great variety in design, style and color as to preclude the possibility of giving a detailed description of them within the limits of this book.
However, in order that the rank of the officers and enlisted men of these foreign services may be readily recognizable under the conditions that ordinarily prevail on active service ashore or afloat, there is included in this chapter a short description of the service uniforms and insignia worn by the officers and enlisted men of the armies and navies of Great Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary.
It will be noted that the uniforms of the navies of the world bear more similarity to each other than do those of the armies, thus the rank of naval officers of all the great powers is indicated by stripes of braid worn on the sleeves between the elbow and the lower edge of the cuff, and in most cases by similar stripes or other insignia worn upon straps placed on the shoulders between the base of the collar and the sleeve at the shoulder seam.
In the different armies there is much more diversity in design and color as well as in the method of indicating rank and corps; stripes and various designs upon the cuffs, insignia and stripes upon shoulder straps and insignia of many different designs upon the collar being the most common means.
In one respect all of the naval and military services of the world follow the same custom, medals and decorations awarded for especial deeds of gallantry, for long and faithful service or to commemorate some special event in war or peace are worn upon the left breast with dress uniforms, almost always suspended from a ribbon of distinctive color design, while a small section of this distinctive ribbon is worn with undress uniform and service uniforms. As a special mark of distinction the medals considered the highest in rank are frequently worn on the right breast or suspended from a ribbon or chain around the neck.
A marked tendency toward simplification in design both of uniform and insignia and toward the use of neutral or dull colors is also evident in recent years. This is largely due to the necessity of making the soldier as inconspicuous as possible when on the firing line, but also to the great expense incurred in fitting out very large forces of men in elaborate dress uniforms for which there is no use in the field.
Nevertheless it may be expected that when the world returns to a basis of general peace time conditions the dress uniforms and bright insignia and buttons that add so much to the brilliancy of military gatherings will again be in evidence; especially since there is so much of the tradition of the past associated with these uniforms and badges of rank and corps.
Attractive uniforms induce a corresponding pride in the smartness and neatness of the soldier or sailor and the distinctive badges of regiments and corps with long histories of creditable achievement go far to establish the esprit de corps which so surely makes for efficiency and contentment.
UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH NAVY
In Great Britain the Navy is known as “The Senior Service” as it was organized as a regular service prior to the organization of a regular national Army.