The officers’ service uniform consists of a single-breasted sack coat with a standing turn-down collar, shoulder straps and four outside patch pockets similar to the service coat of United States Army officers; breeches; tan leather strap puttees and shoes, or tan leather boots, and a cap (_kepi_) of the same color as the coat and trousers. The color of this uniform is a light blue-gray. The buttons are of silver-bronze. The cap, or _kepi_, has a sloping visor of black patent leather with a band covered with gold lace for general officers and of distinctive colored cloth with narrow gold stripes indicating rank for other officers, and the top of the crown is slightly less in diameter than the band. In the case of general officers the visor is ornamented with gold decorations. In the trenches when under fire a steel helmet is worn as a protection against long range rifle bullets and pieces of shrapnel. This helmet is of the same color as the service uniform and it has a distinctive corps insignia on the front in metal of the same color. [Illustration: _Photo. Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._ French Army. Officers’ service uniform] [Illustration: French Army. Officers’ sleeve decorations indicating rank and service All of the stripes are gold, except in the case of Lieutenant Colonel, where the second and fourth are silver 1. Marshal of France 2. General 3. General of Division 4. General of Brigade 5. Colonel 6. Lieutenant Colonel 7. Major 8. Captain 9. First Lieutenant 10. Second Lieutenant 11. War service chevron] When on duty away from the actual battle front the dress cap of red or blue (according to the corps) is frequently worn. The rank of officers in the French Army was formerly indicated by stars on the cuffs for General officers and by gold or silver stripes around the cuffs of the coats for other officers, the widths, number and arrangement of the stripes being practically the same as those worn by officers of the same relative rank in the navy. These stripes proved too conspicuous for field service and a small section of the stripes showing on the front of the sleeve only was adopted for the service coats. These short stripes or _galons_ are of dull gold or silver depending on the rank and are as shown in the accompanying illustration. The insignia for the different grades of rank are as follows: Marshal of France Seven stars on each cuff, arranged in three vertical rows, the center row having three stars and the outer rows having two stars each. General Four stars on each cuff, two placed horizontally in the center and one above and one below. General of Division Three stars on each cuff arranged in a triangle with the point up. General of Brigade Two stars placed on each cuff horizontally.