ARMY REFORMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1939, Page 6

ARMY REFORMS

ANNOUNCED BY WAR OFFICE SHORTER PERIOD OF FOREIGN SERVICE. SERVICE UNIFORMS OF NEW TYPE (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) RUGBY, April 20. Two Army reforms are announced by the War Office—the reduction of the period of foreign service to four years instead of six and the grant-, ing of the option to every soldier of good character and efficiency to reengage and complete twenty-one years’ service, thereby qualifying for a pen-, sion. This will apply also to Regular Army reservists who "have already been offered the opportunity of rejoining to complete twelve years with the col-, ours. The War Office makes it clear that the first change has been made possible as a result of a great improvement in recruiting. It will apply as from the next trooping season. Simultaneously the War Office issued details of the new Army service clress —which consists for officers and meh alike of a blou.se and trousers, which button at. the ankle, with short web-, bing anklets, somewhat on the lines of a skiing suit—and of a scheme for the reorganisation of army cooking.' The Army- dress will be of darkserge. All bright metal buttons requiring polishing will be eliminated from the blouse. The headdress will be a field service cap, except ( when a steel helmet is worn. The dress of the kilted regiments is under consideration.