The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-24
The Red Cont and the Sword.

The historic rod cont of the British SOL
dier, except for dress parade purposes,
must sc. So must the sword Of the British
infantry officer. Such appears to be the
verdict OF the ablest military critics now
watching the contest In South Africa at the
scat Of war.
at is absurd, says the Cape Town cor
respondent of the Londm Times, THAT our
soldiers and volunteers should wear n nni-
form which is useless for the purposes of
war in England or France Just as much
a. in South Area" The dinGy khaki
uniform principally worn by the British
troops now on service in the war with
the Transvaal Republic furnishes the
desired invisibility at long rife range
better than anything which has yet
been devised; but it has proved to be
extremely important that it should not be
Ornlmcntcd by bright buttons or any shin
ing metallic object, whose gleam in the
South African sunshine will enable the
Boer sharpshoOter to detect the presence Of
Il foe who otherwise would remain unseen.
While condcmning the red coat and prais-
ing khaki, the critics to whom We refer do
not despair Of preserving variety and at
tractivcncss in military uniforms. There
would not DO the least difficulty" says
the writer from whom we have already
quoted, lin devising a large variety
Of smart uniforms, practically as in
visible as khaki at any distance over
200 yards. All that is necessary is that
certain elementary optical rules regarding
the blending Of colors should be observed
and that no separate patch Of bright colors
should exceed q certain size" 1t seems,
however, that certain colors commonly re-
garded as inconspicuous have been fatally
attractive to the Bocr rilcmen; and that
this is particularly true OF the dark green
kilt worn by the Highlanders in some Of
the earlier engagements,
The abolition Of the infantry officers
sword and the substitution Of a rife there
for are likewise demanded by the practical
experience OF the British military forces in
South Africa up To the present time Of writ
ing. Indeed, the f~lcldglass is coming to be
regarded as more important TO such officers
than any weapon which can be placed in
their hands.
But these lessons concerning the red
coat and the sword are not the only ones
being taught by the contest in South Africa.
The famous joins P. ROBINSON, he" was
Of the opinion that they didn't know
cvcrythin' down in JUDGE" Some people
are beginning 10 realize that there ire things
about war which are not perfectly under
stool in England. A glimmering notion
Of the usefulness of mounted infantry is
observable; and then, too, doubt seems to
have arisen as TO the value Of the field day
exercises and manTuvrcs in which the
British soldier has been trained so much at
home. Read this from the diary Of another
London Times correspondent at Stcrkstrom,
with Gen. GATACRE'S division:
Field day this morning. | devou.ly hope that
the men will not be similarly handled in actual
fighting 80 regard whatever for ground; shut eyes.
put the head down, and 20 straight like a bull at
gate, but in such loose order that the gate would
probably survive the shock"
Live and learn, was the old motto. 1t
seems TO bc die and learn, with the British
in South Africa.