The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-28
TOMMY ATKINS NEW CAP.
The Little Drumshaped Headgear
Will Have to Go.


From the London Chronicle.
The stiff little drumshaped forage
cap which has hitherto been worn by
the British guardsman is to be dis
placed by a new headgear. which cor
responds in the main to the cloth cap
of the an-of-warsman. This an
rouncement will doubtless be received
with deep regret by continental carica-
turists, who invariably depict Tommy
Atkins as a man with the tiniest of
hats and the biggest of protruding
teeth, and their sorrow will be shared
by those pantomime artists who gen
orally rely upon the soldiers head APP
parel. worn at an absurd angle, as a
standing means of exciting the merri-
ment of their audience. So far the
Irish guards alone are in possession
of the new cap, which they wear with
a band of green, but the entire brig
ade will shortly be furnished with
similar headgear, with the exception
that the band of the Coldstreams will
be white, the Grenadiers red, and the
Scots a small check of red and white.
This pattern, which will shortly be ia
miliar to every Londoner, has been
borrowed-like the recent army order
about the training of troops-from the
German army, and 1t remains to be
seen whether the rank and file will take
kindly to departure which is in strik-
ing contrast to some of their most
cherished traditions.
1t will seem rather extraordinary to
the lay reader that this new forage
cap, which may possibly be issued TO
all troops besides the Guards at an
early date. has formed the subject of
long and anxious discussion on the part
of the uniform authorities a the war
office. Every one has recognized that
the old headgear failed to protect the
soldier either from excessive heat, wet
or cold, and the object of the clothing
experts was to find some pattern which
should possess all these advantages
The styles worn by every European
army were carefully studied and test
ed. and ultimately the present cap,
which in shape and material and man
ufacture is similar to the article worn
by the British bluejacket was re-
solved upon. In the matter of uniform,
however. the personal equation counts
very largely. The authorities know
very we'll that smart uniform has
attracted thousands of men to the re-
cruiting depot. and the old forage cap.
despite it's ridiculous proportions and
uselessness, considered from the point
of view of a protection for the head,
was undoubtedly well beloved of
Thomas Atkins. viii the new forage
cap. worn upon the crown of the head
and not tower the right ear, enjoy the
same popularity? The authorities are
plainly in doubt on the point, and the
present distribution to the brigade of
Guards is undertaken chiefly for ex-
perimental purposes.
Those Irish warriors who have been
consulted on the absorbing topic of the
new forage cap have not hesitated to
declare in favor of the old type. The
chief advantages to which the army
authorities lay claim is that the new
pattern really establishes a uniform
style for soldiers and handymen alike
and that the former will not be en-
numbered, as previously. with the
transport OF two caps, the old forage
and field service types. which it is
desired shall be displaced by the new
pattern.