UNITED STATES. An important and radical alteration in the uniform of the 1 lifted States Army was made in 1902. It comprised the adop tion of 'full dress,' dress.' and 'service' uniforms (with summer and winter additions) ; the bel nwt was abolished and a cap, shaped somewhat like the British officers' was substi tuted; minute adherence to details and strict observance of times and places or 'occasions' when each kind of dress was appropriate were enjoined. In the new dress, the results of the experience of all nations as to utility and orna ment were combined.
For all uniforms excepting overcoat and 'ser vice dress' the traditional color—dark blue—was retained with facings or piping of red, yellow, and white for the artillery, cavalry, and in fantry respectively. For the staff corps and de partments colors for facings, etc.. were prescribed as follows: Scarlet piped with white for the engineers: orange piped with white for the signal corps; black piped with scarlet for the ordnance department : maroon for the medical corps; and buff for the quartermaster's department. The overcoat was an 'ulster' of a yellowish-brown color. The chapeau was discarded for all pur poses save 'full-dress—dismounted' for generals and officers of the general staff. In 1903 a new material of an 'olive drab' shade was adopted for the 'service dress;' all insignia and metal trimmings and buttons were of bronze; and boots and leggings of russet leather were prescribed.
The full-dress coat for officers is double breasted. with a double row of buttons, and for general officers has a velvet collar. With it are worn epaulets (by general officers) or shoulder knots, while the appropriate insignia for the corps, department, or arm of the service and the rank of the officer are indicated by devices and braid on the collar and cuffs. The dress
coat for all officers except general officers is a single-breasted sack coat of dark blue cloth trimmed with black braid, but without brass buttons. Shoulder straps and appropriate corps devices on the collar are worn with this coat. The white coat is similar to the dress coat save that the insignia of rank is placed on the shoulder loop and the shoulder straps are omitted. The general officers' dress coat is a double-breasted sack coat with brass buttons. The service coat of olive drab is a sack coat with outside patch pockets and has the insignia of rank on the shoulder strap and the corps devices on the collar. These with the buttons are of dull bronze. Private soldiers have the same gen eral classes of uniforms. The full dress uniforms are adorned with a breast cord and tassel of the corps, color of the department, or arm of the service, as are the piping of the collar, shoulder loops, and cuff. The trousers of the full-dress uniform are of sky blue with a stripe of the color appropriate to the corps or arm. The cap which replaces the helmet for full dress has a stripe of cloth of the proper color. while it has the appropriate insignia of metal in front. The dress cap has the band removed, while in service the well-known felt campaign hat is worn. The various insignia worn in tho United States Army are described in some detail under MILITARY INSIGNIA; CHEVRONS; ErAU LETs; etc. The uniform for the cadets of the United States _Military Academy (1.v.) is of gray, the service coat being a sack coat trimmed with black braid win bout buttons, while the dress coat is a swallow-tailed coat with brass bell buttons. The marks of ranks of the cadet officers are chevrons with the points upward.