Uniforms of this material came into use about 1880 in the British-Indian Army. At first the Khaki dye was not fast color, and regiments on parade presented a somewhat mottled appear ance. In 1884 two Englishmen named Lemaun and Gatti secured a fast dye and thus obviated the difficulty. This dye is used equally well for cotton or woolen materials, an important factor in view of service in different climates. in 18S5 Lord Roberts investigated the matter and ordered accoutrements, gun wheels, and carriages to be painted in the Khaki color. With the helmets or turbans, haversack covers, and water bottles as well as the uniforms, in this dull shade, the soldier is practically invisible in the field. It was decided to do away with the distinguishing marks of offieers in the field on account of the great losses among them in the South African War, but the difficulty of inaugurating any changes in the uniforms of the British Army stands in the way of any radical reform. For instance, in the Boer War the Highland regi ments consented to wear Khaki helmets and Jackets, hut refused to give up their kilts. Simi
larly. every regiment in the British Army pos sesses its own traditions and privileges. These privileges are regarded as inalienable rights. and as they conduce very strongly to esprit de corps, they have a value which in a degree offsets the strictly utilitarian views of the War Office.
The service uniforms of the armies of the military powers are now selected primarily for their usefulness under actual war conditions hut the main characteristics of the ordinary uniforms are imliented in the following summary: AtTsrmA. Infantry, a frock of dark blue cloth, the collar bearing patches with the regi mental colors. Rifle regiments, light gray. The Bosnian- infantry wear a frock coat of light color. Cavalry: Dragoons. wear a single breasted tunic of light blue cloth. Hussars. light and dark bine. The various regiments are distinguished by their head-dress o• the color of their facings. The dolman is of the same color as the tunic, is lined with fur, and has a black astrachan collar. Engineers, light blue.