FEDERAL LAW TO PROTECT UNIFORM SALT LAKE, Dec. 20. Numerous j complaints to the military authorities at Fort Douglas and to the United States district attorney for Utah that discharged soldiers aro showing disrespect dis-respect and contempt for the uniform of tho United States army and navy by ; their conduct on the streets of Salt Lake brought action yesterday which resulted in announcement that all such offenders are to be promptly arrested and prosecuted under the provisions of th federal law covering such offenses. Tho offense is covered by the amendment to section 3 of the espionage es-pionage act, which contains drastic prohibitions against tho showing of disrespect in any manner to the uniform uni-form of the United States, and which provided, as a penalty for such offenses, of-fenses, a maximum term of twenty years in federal prison or payment of a maximum fine of 10.000, or both such fine and imprisonment. Refusal of a discharged soldier in uniform to salute tho uniform and in -1 signia of an officer, or any act or word on his part tending to show disrespect disres-pect for the uniform of the army or navy, or to bring the uniform into ridicule, contempt or disrepute, or which tends to incite insubordination in the military or naval forces, constitutes con-stitutes a violation of this section of the espionage act, it is held by the military and department of justice authorities.