Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 17036, 6 May 1919, Page 4

Til!-, r: pre-eniaiions of the wounded soldiers who preferred a reHcspital Blues. quest to Sir James Allen at the Monteciho f'o;ivn!f si.ont Military Hume vesterdav are - le-i-rcing of sympathetic, considerat:oi:. The bine unlham which these men are < li'cii.''!.-'' !< wear is very unsightly, ar.d i! is < asy lo understand the objection that they have to wcarnv.: such a costume in iiu- .-n-.vt.s and v. lieu visiting their friends. The Defence Minister, in his reply, sa'd he aiuiii n.-t .-.-;» his wn-y to do away with, the uniform, and he advanced re:..-"iiS v h\ :> distinctive dress should be worn by soldier* undergoing hospital treatment. *!•:• promised, however, that "a decent wrform would be -substituted as soon as possible." This will probably lv acceptable loathe soldiers, for their objection, we take it. is not so much to wearing dothes indicating that they are undergoing hospital treatment as to being compelled to appear in a uniform that almost borders on the grotesque. It is readily understood, too, that on medical grounds loose clothing is essential; but there is a happy mean in ali things, and it surely ought to be possible to combine comfort with some regard to appearance. The Minister of Defence made a, good point when he expressed the opinion that "the blue uniform was the one that ought to be held in -the highest esteem—higher even than the khaki." With that sentiment we fhouid have thought everyone would agree ; but I'rivate Gilmour. one of the speakers- yesterday, said that the uniform was the object of comment and ridicule. This is borne oi;t by the observations of the Ik-v. Vincent King, who has a letter in tins issue bearing on the subject, and other evidence lias been submitted to us showing that tho treatment complained of is not an isolated instance- It is hard to

imagine that peoplo can bo so thoughtless and "io- cruel. To think that theae men, who have {ought and bled i'of us, and who are bearing their wounds with as imich heroism as they showed on tho far-aif battlctields. should be subjected to the gibes; ol shallow, irresponsible people is n -ad comment oil Hie spiiit of the k is tu be hoped that the ■publicity which Jias been given to the matter will have the effect oi making these tipibm'.s.ing pc-remiss adopt a different attitude to tile men who wear the. hospital blue.