NEW UNIFORMS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH FORCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12282, 28 May 1903, Page 6

NEW UNIFORMS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH FORCES

TO xSE ADOPTED FROM J\JLY i Thk style of vmifotm for the Coming Forces has at last been approved ft j, been the desire of Major-General HuW* make it essentially a serviceable uniW and not one to attrart the public by it« geousness, or to give room for the gibe £ the military forces «re nothing 7'tSn and gold lace The jacket is to be a special khaki-coloured serge, si a^J,r .!,7 ed with a greenish tinge, and with a y sl back, turned down collar, detachable «h™u er rifle patches, two patch breast mS with pleats, and three-pointed fIaKS pointed cuffs. A regimental badge, or w, ineral, will be worn on the centre of t> patch. The uniform will be worn w '"• arms, but gorget patches, a colour tor each ami of the service will l worn on the collar, while the centre of ft patch will contain a regimental badge . r „„ ineral. There are to be detachable slioaMer straw. The title-, of regiments and com. will be embroidered on a curved strip ofth same material as the garment, and will b worn on the upper arms of the jackets and great coat*, about, one inch from the arm seam of the former, and just clear of th shoulder flap on the great coat. The num" ber ot the regiment, embroidered in same colours as the title, will be worn over a. title. r W * The Scottish corps will retain their pr 6. sent dress, in accordance with existing sealed patterns for general purposes, except that the colour of the jacket will be the same as that adopted for the service dress. Chevrons and badges of rank oi gold lace for militia, and silver lace for volunteers will be worn on both arms. The buttons will be of gilded metal for the militia, and of white metal for the volunteers, of a special Commonwealth pattern, which will be hereafter decided. The trousers for the dismounted services are to be made o: khaki serge, similar to the jacket, loose at the knee, cut narrow as they approach the ankle, and made short just reaching the top of the ankle boot, ai now adopted into the Imperial army. They are not to be worn without leggings or puttees, except in camp or barracks. Breeches for mounted services are to be of Bedford cord of a colour to match the dress, and to be laced below the knee. The pattern of the field service cap now hi wear will be continued for the present for the non-commissioned officers and men. The officers will wear a peaked cap of material to match the dress, and of a pattern similar to the dress, and of a pattern similar to the staff forage cap. Details will be issued hereafter. General Hutton says:" Esprit de corps of the right kind, does not depend -upon dress. The class of men that is attracted by a smart uniform is not that which gives the best and most valuable result as soldiers. The necessity for a workmanlike, neat, and soldierly uniform has been careiully borne in mindj and this uniform fulfils those conditions. The uniform, although of a slightly different colour, is identical with that provided for the Coronation corps sent from Australia to England last year. I am informed by the Commander-in-Chief and other distinguished officers that the Australian representative troops attracted general attention and much admiration for the neatness and practical character and soldierly appearance of their uniforms. " The aiguillettes which it is proposed to attach to th* uniforms for all mounted troops in order to transform the general service uniform into full dress,'' continued the general, " are generally admitted to be an attractive and handsome addition to the military dress. They are worn by the household troops of the British army and by the French, German, and Italian armies, as well as by special corps, and by all members of the staff. • One of the most important principles which has been kept carefully in view is to reduce the expense of the uniforms in the case of young officers who join regiments. In many corps the initial outlay on uniforms is at present as much as £100. This cost is, in my opinion, entirely out of place in a citizen force. The mostimportant object kept in view in the introduction of these economical styles of uniform is that the Government may have at ita disposal the very best class of young Australians that can bo induced to hold commissions. in adopting a general service' uniform, the Government has been following the plan adopted by the British army, ana also within the last few months by the Canadian militia. I feel sure that this new system of uniforms for the Commonwealth forces will, in a very large measure, conduce to the satisfactory efficiency and esprit de corps of the whole of the Federal forces."