ARMY UNIFORMS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 70, 31 March 1913, Page 4

ARMY UNIFORMS.

Tho jrassing of the scarlet coat is lamented by many officers of high rank in India, and it has been stated that the late Sir William Lockhart non Id have made a serious .effort to restore the historic uniform if ho had lived longer to hold the post of'Commander-in-Chief. He desired all the line regiments to discard the <drab khaki and go back to scarlet and was supported in his opinion by some .of the Indian newspapers. “There is no brighter, smarter or more soldier-like dress than the scarlet of the British army,” says the “Times of India.” “It looks like war and the mere sight of it recalls the long list of gallant achievements which have made it so famous. As a service dress scarlet is undoubtedly out of date but for the. many occasions on which soldiers individually or An bodies large or small are required to look their sniartest and, best it has' few equals. ]£haki is an excellent colour for work and active service, but it is very difficult for akhaki-clad regiment to compare with; a scarlet-clad, one in turn-out and appearaneq. Scarlet and bluejarfe, moreover, the English Royal colours, and as such the only true and orthodox colours to be worn by the' main’ body of the troops which serve under the British flag.” This newspaper adds that there is “small doubt that the application of any khaki-clad regiment to change to scarlet would lie sympathetically received.”