368 ALTERATIONS IN THE CLOTHING OF ARTILLERY IN INDIA. 
Advantage was taken of the reconstruction of the orders on the 
subject of clothing to embody in those orders such changes in the 
clothing itself as would adapt it more to the requirements of India. 
Recommendations were made by certain senior officers that all full 
dress should be abolished in India, and that white clothing might be 
entirely replaced by khaki. 
Several other suggestions, such, for instance, as the introduction of 
khaki serge as a material of clothing, were put forward; but on these 
the Commander-in-Chief in India decided to pass no order pending the 
receipt of full reasons for and against them. On two points however, 
His Excellency gave rulings at once. 
(1). That the Horse Artillery dress jacket is not to be abolished. 
(2). That white clothing is to be retained. 
In view of ascertaining the opinions generally of artillery officers in 
India on the subject of the most suitable scale of clothing for the 
soldier, tables of proposed issues were drawn up for each of the six 
following branches of the Regiment :— 
Royal Horse Artillery. 
Mounted men of Field and Heavy Batteries. 
Dismounted men of Field Batteries. 
Mounted men of Mountain Batteries. 
Dismounted men ditto ditto. 
Garrison Artillery and dismounted men of Heavy Batteries, 
and these tables were circulated to commanding officers for report. 
As the average duration of residence in India of a short service man 
is about six years, the issues were calculated on a supposed stay in 
India of that length. 
The result of the reference of those proposals to commanding officers 
was that they were generally accepted, though of course some ex- 
ceptions were taken, and some officers seized the opportunity to make 
suggestions in addition to those which had been submitted to them. 
Some of these suggestions were as follows :— 
The introduction of a khaki serge field service cap. 
Some were in favour of blue putties and some of khaki ones. 
The introduction of a warmer material for khaki pantaloons for issue 
to batteries serving in cold climates such as the Panjab and the N.W. 
Frontier. 
The issue of a cardigan waistcoat. 
Only one officer advocated the retention of the tunic. 
Several advocated the introduction of khaki serge, while others 
represented that it is unsuitable for issue to troops owing to its 
susceptibility to dirt and stains. : 
The result of these references is that the following recommendations 
were made to Government by the Commander-in-Chief in India, and 
have been accepted in toto. The new issues come in force from lst 
April, 1896. 
