AMERICAN UNIFORMS IN 35 SIZES

Southland Times, Issue 24759, 2 June 1942, Page 5

AMERICAN UNIFORMS IN 35 SIZES

(Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) / SYDNEY, May 31.

Uniforms for American troops are made in 35 different sizes, compared with the 20 sizes in which Australian uniforms are made. This has been given by the Minister of the Army, Mr F. M. Forde, as one reason for the better appearance of the United States’ service personnel on leave in Australian cities. “We have a population of only 7,000,000 and it would cost an enormous sum to add extra sizes of uniforms for our men,” said Mr Forde. He added that appearance was not only a question of dress. “The Americans’ discipline, training and morale are proof that they are one of the most efficient fighting forces ever to leave the United States,” said Mr Forde. He emphasized that the complaints that discipline among the Australians was not as good as in the American Army had been caused by a very small minority of Commonwealth troops. For a fighting force to be welltrained and well equipped was not enough. It must also be thoroughly well disciplined, otherwise a resolute and ruthless enemy could turn the army into a rabble.