Note in (A) the curious leather gauntlets, the plate (or cuirbouly) knee guards and the tall open helmet (bascinet).

[…] a crowd of ragged, discharged soldiers, who, having served a government which takes and never gives, returning home without pay, took vengeance on the legalized throttlers of travel and trade.

Referring to people who are always griping about war-time conditions the bartender mentions the expression “the grass is always greener,” and I refer to Americans who always want “egg in their beer."

Launch the torpedo on three! 1... 2... 3! Bombs away!