ARMY: Sabres Out

For years the U. S. Army officer’s blunt-edged dress sabre has been a symbol of authority and tradition — and nothing more. Hung on only for formal parades and inspections, it has been an out-of-date nuisance, especially anomalous in Air Corps and mechanized outfits. Last week, having ruled out boots and spurs for motorized soldiers, the Army decided to throw out the sabre too. Also on the way out, the War Department announced, is the shiny Sam Browne belt, essentially designed to let an officer lug a sabre around without disarranging his waist belt. From now on the Sam Browne will be worn only with the blouse, and without arms—in other words, only when an officer is spruced up for dances, or trips to town.