The sun., 1912-08-07
HATS INSTEAD Of CAPS
FOR SAILORS IN NAVY
Traditional Flapping Collar
Also Likely to Be
Abolished.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Government Is Meditating Dress
Reform That May Not
Please the Wearers.

Dispatches from Washington said
yesterday that the fiat topped round cap
and wide collar which have been features
Of the garb of sailor since the early days
of tho United States navy were likely 20
he discarded. Such action would abolish
two Of the most familiar features Of the
uniform.
The proposed change has been pre-
ceded by a long period Of experiment
and discussion. While naval officers have
an idea that the sailors would resent any
radical change in their costume for shore
purposes. 30 strong are traditions in tho
navy. the sailors themselves have COM
planned more than once Of their present
cost lime when af1oat.
The fat topped cap has habit Of getting
blown on at une xpected times. Offloers
have. long noticed that when a line Of
jackies is drawn up at attention on deck
on a formal occasion a gust Of wind
frequently takes u few caps with Il. Not
that the sailor himself is entirely free from
blame for this. for 1t IL tradition that he
will pick out a cap few sizes too small
so that il can lie perched on his head at
what he considers a proper angle, al
though his opinion on this point varies
from the manner in which the cap was
intended to be worn.
Sailors, too. have spoken among them
selves about the collar. with its three
stripes of white braid and it, two white
stars. They like the idea Of the collar.
but they say it bothers them on windy
day at sea. They think it might he cut
smaller. Those who handle the designing
Of such things do not think this particular
sort of collar could be cut down without
hurting its appearance.
About two years ago the Bureau of
Navigation, which has control over the
sailors dress. had samples Of a new cap
in heavy blue cloth made. much like the
white duck hats the blue jackets wear at
work in temperate climates.
sailors cap is the gold lettered name
of the ship. When one Of these name
bands was put around the new hat with
the brim turned up. the name was hidden
by the brim.
Nothing more was heard of the matter
until recently. when the subject again
came up and the same sort Of hat is again
being considered.
The matter OF shirts has come up
recently The Bureau of Navigation
ordered Paymaster Huntington. in char G.
Of the clothes factory at the brooklyn
navy ward, which il the headquarters OF
the supply for the whole service. to make
up samples along new lines. No decision
has yet been sent out by the Washington
authorities.
The shirt which is being considered IL
designed after the Dung garee shirt now in
made OF the blue cloth used in the sailors
uniform instead Of the mottled blue jeans
of which Dungaree shirts are made.
This shirt has a soft rolling collar which
might be described as "A shawl collar.
only three or four inches wide at the
snt saiors bloas. 'fso IS retained @ d S but the
bottom. instead OF having-tails" to tuck
within the trousers. as the present blouse
has, ends in An elastic band about the
waist. There Is no room on the collar for
a display Of braid or stars and the gar
ment sinacks more Of working dress than
Of tradition.
There il no probability that the present
wide bottomed trousers will be aban- /
donad since they are more easily rolled
Up about the knees than other kinds and
there Is still much deck scrubbing to be !
done.
The bluejackets. like the marines. are /
to have pa jamas. These are being made
Of a strong white material and are with |
out buttons. The shirt ID open far enough !
down from the neck to go on over the !
head easily and the opening il closed with
Il flap and held together by the tying Of a
tape.
The spirit OF change has affected the !
uniforms Of officers. too. but in minor
details. such AZ shoulder marks. which !
are TO be white instead OF black for use
with white uniforms.
A suggestion has been made that the
present blue ejackets y unifo be continued
FOR shore use and the proposed new uni
form be adopted for wear aboard ship. |
An objection to this course from tho /
point Of view of the enlisted men IL that
they would have TO keep themselves
supplied with an extra uniform at their /
own expense. since they receive one out
fit of clothing at the time Of enlistment
and after that have to pay for their clothes.