NAVAL UNIFORMS. • Modern naval uniforms are marked by the same general characteristics throughout the navies of the world, and resemble each other quite closely. This, doubtless, is due to the fact that naval officers and men are universally exposed to the same conditions and that the ceremonies and usages at sea obtain in much the same form under different flags. The uniforms of the United States Navy, described in some detail below, may be considered fairly typical, and the deviations are usually in such details as epaulets, gold lace, insignia, etc., for which each service has its own definite and minute regulations.
The uniform for the British Navy closely re sembles that of the United States Navy. For offieers there are eight different suits to be worn on specific occasions, classed as follows: Full dress, hall dress, frock coat with epaulets, frock coat, undress, mess dress. mess undress. white undress. The undress uniform differs from that worn in the United States Navy in that it has a double-breasted coat with brass buttons instead of the blouse trimmed with braid. On all the uniforms the distinctive marks of rank are stripes on the sleeves and appropriate devices on the shoulder strap or epaulet. The significant de grees on the latter are as follows: Admiral of the fleet. crown. and crossed cannon surrounded by a wreath; admiral, crown, crossed sword and baton and Unice stars: vice-admiral. the same, with two stars: rear-admiral, the same, with one star; a commodore or senior captain has a crown and anchor and two stars, while a junior captain has Ole same with one star; a commander has a crown and anchor. a senior lieutenant a star and anchor, and a junior lieutenant an anchor.
The Russian Navy in its dress resembles the British, but is less elaborate and has some marked peculiarities. Officers (in winter) wear a dark blue frock coat, a reefer jacket, or a monkey jacket : in summer, white. The cap is high, flat-topped, and of the color of the dress worn. Cocked hats are required for full dress. In winter both officers and men wear a brown woolen cape, also goloshes over the boots. The Russian officer out of quarters is always in uni form. The enlisted man in winter wears a short gray overcoat, belted at the waist. On shore duty he wears a military tunic and leggings.
The uniform of officers of the United States Navy consists of three classes—dress, undress, and service dress. The dress uniforms are, spe cial full dress, full dress, dress, evening dress A, evening dress B, mess dress. The undress uniforms are undress A and undress B. Service dress is either blue or white. The special full dress uniform consists of a double-breasted blue broadcloth coat with standing collar and eighteen gilt buttons. nine in each row: blue trousers with a stripe of gold lace down the outside seam; epaulets, cocked hat, sword, and full-dress belt. The undress A uniform consists of a double breasted blue frock coat similar in cut to the civilian's coat, but having eighteen gilt buttons, nine each side, and with shoulder fixtures for epaulets or shoulder-straps (the latter are worn with undre5s A) ; a blue waistcoat with seven gilt buttons. cap, sword, plain leather belt, and plain blue trousers. The service suit consists of a blue or white blouse with standing collar and trimmed with black braid : blue or white waist coat with seven gilt buttons; plain blue or white trousers. The evening dress suit is similar in cut to the civilian evening dress suit, but the buttons are gilt and the coat is fitted with shoulder fixtures for epaulets; the waistcoat may be blue or white as ordered. The mess dress consists of the white mess jacket, cut like the evening dress coat without the tails, white waistcoat, and blue or xvhite trousers.
The various styles of uniform are made up from these. The special full dress is used on occasions of special ceremony. The full dress is used on less important occasions. It consists of the frock coat with epaulets, cocked hat, full dress belt. and special full-dress trousers. The dress uniform, used for particular official calls, consists of frock coat, epaulets, cocked hat, plain belt, blue trousers. Undress A is used for ser vice on courts-martial, reporting for duty, etc. Undress B differs from undress A only in omit ting the sword and belt. It is used for ordinary official and semi-official calls, etc. Service dress is worn at all times when some other special uniform is not provided. The mess dress is worn at dinner when ordered.