§ COLONEL BARNE, in rising to move—
That the present conspicuous and tight-fitting dress and accoutrements of the British Army places it at a serious disadvantage when opposed to troops armed with weapons of accuracy, and causes the unnecessary loss of many valuable lives,said, he was so satisfied of the substantial truth of the statement contained in his Resolution that he could not refrain from bringing it under the notice of the House; but, after the appeal from the Prime Minister, he should do so very briefly. Since the Crimean War this country had, happily, not had to carry on war with any European army supplied with arms of precision. In Abyssinia, in Ashantee, in Afghanistan, and 1253 in Zululand we had had to contend against men of another colour, and not armed with weapons of accuracy. The case was different with the Boers, and he maintained that had the troops we had sent against them been clad in a dress which did not make them so conspicuous in the field, instead of the defeat we had suffered in the Transvaal, we should have had a very different tale to tell. The late Emperor Napoleon directed some experiments with regard to the distance at which different colours could be seen. White was found to be the most conspicuous colour, black the next, and gamboge the third, and red the fourth. A particular light grey was the least conspicuous. The British Army was clothed, therefore, in the most conspicuous colours. The 60th Rifles, the Artillery, and the Hussars were clothed in uniforms so dark as to be practically black, and the Line and Dragoon regiments were in scarlet with either white or brass helmets. In the battle on the Ingogo, the 60th Rifles were picked out by the Boers in consequence of the distinctive character of their dress. One argument he had heard in favour of the conspicuous colour of the dress of our soldiers was that scarlet was such a good colour in the dark. To that argument he confessed it was very difficult to give an answer. Another argument was that if they wanted men to enter the Army they must dress them well, and with many men a showy dress was indispensable, as without it it would be hopeless to attempt to get the housemaids to fall in love with them. He was sure, however, that the question would not be decided on that principle. But, even if they were dressed gaudily at home, they ought not, at all events, to be sent abroad on active service in uniforms which placed them at an immense disadvantage. With regard to the tightness of the dress, it was reported that the 58th, on arriving at Laing's Nek, were "blown." This was because the tunic was so tight that when men were called upon to exert themselves strongly their lungs were unable to get full play. For his own part, he should like to see the men clothed in Norfolk jackets, loose round the chest and tight round the waist, with breeches which would allow plenty of play for the knees, and a pair of gaiters. The hon. and gallant Gentleman concluded 1254 by moving the Resolution of which he had given Notice.
§ SIR HARRY VERNEY, in seconding the Amendment, expressed his opinion that the Army would be much indebted to the hon. and gallant Member for having brought forward this question. Our men wore a more visible dress than was adopted by any other Army. The custom of dressing the officers in a manner even more conspicuous than the men was particularly objectionable; and he sincerely hoped that his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War would consider whether it might be desirable to make some change with regard to these matters. He also desired to direct his right hon. Friend's notice to the expensive character of the dress of the officers in many regiments. Doubtless, many a wounded and helpless officer had been murdered by camp followers and other ruffians for the sake of the expensive dress he was wearing.
§
Amendment proposed,
To leave out from the word "That" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words "the present conspicuous and tight-fitting dress and accoutrements of the British Army places it at a serious disadvantage when opposed to troops armed with weapons of accuracy, and causes the unnecessary loss of many valuable lives,"—(Colonel Barne,)
—instead thereof.
§ Question proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question."
§ LORD ELCHOsaid, that although he sympathized with much that had fallen from his hon. and gallant Friend, he could not help thinking that it would be better for hon. Members to reserve their remarks on this subject until the Vote for the Clothing Department came on for consideration in Committee of Supply.
§ MR. CHILDERSsaid, the noble Lord had anticipated the answer he was about to give to the hon. and gallant Gentleman. It was thought that the House would resolve itself at once into Committee of Supply. The hon. and gallant Gentleman proposed that the whole Army should be clothed in Norfolk jackets, breeches, and gaiters. This was a very sweeping proposal; but, nevertheless, it should be taken into consideration. The inconvenience arising from the present tight dress of the Army was already recognized, and he 1255 admitted that some change ought to be made in this respect. The question of colour was one on which no two persons were agreed. He would ask the hon. and gallant Member to withdraw his Motion, and bring the subject forward again when the House was in Supply on the Clothing Department Vote. He did so, because the discussion would take up much time if it were gone into, and it was most necessary that they should proceed with Supply.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.