The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-02
CONFIRMED SOUVENIR HUNTERS
ON EVERY BATTLE FRONT
In Early Days of War German Helmets
Were Rich Prizes.

Behind British Lines In France, Nov.
14.-(Correspondence of the Associated
Press).-In every battalion at the front
there are number of confirmed SOU
venir hunters, and sometimes their in
fiuence is so potent that an epidemic
craze for collecting spreads through all
ranks, and the main topic of conver-
sation is souvenirs in all their varie-
ties.
In every walk of trench life one meets
the man with strong acquistive habits
in civilian life he might develop his
bent into either finance, art, stamp col
lecting or possibly burglary In the
trenches the fully developed passion
for collecting souvenirs is often "A trial
for the collector, for a collection of any
kind sooner or later demands a place to
put il in, and there is no place in KNAPP
sack and dugout life for a store of gath
cred treasures
The available war souvenirs are sell
dom of much value, but there is con
siderable variety of things to choose
from in most battle areas. In the early
days Of the war, the German helmets
were valued souvenirs, for the old-style
German helmets was substantial and
picturesque, brilliant with heavy metal
garniture. There were also unusual va
riations, like the quaint Bavarian sha-
kos, while one or two cavalry regiments
provided a rare variety of headgear
which has not been seen on the western
front since the first year of war.
The German helmet of today has de-
precated even more than the German
mark 1t is no longer even leather, but
kind of light paper-felt. The metal
spike has given place to one of wood
or composition. The solid brass regi-
mental badge is now a thin tinsel
plaque. The true collector cares very
little for the modern helmet and has
no interest at all in the little round
convict cap which so many German pris-
oners wear. If the German only knew
It, a sure passport to warm and in
stant surrender is a decent helmet. II
attracts immediate attention and the
fortunate owner is given cigarets and
other marks of favor by his delighted
captor, instead of being merely herded
TO the rear without ceremony.
The supply of helmets is seldom ade-
uuate. to the demand indeed the mar
ket Is only glutted on occasions of
big push or a large scale raid. Among
lesser trophies the ambitious collector
finds great scope for his activities in
the shells sent over by the hostile ar
tillery Fuses and nose caps in Won
derful variation are to be obtained with
a little pains and the collection of
these is encouraged by the general staff
because the setting OF the Iuse may
give the correct range of a suspected
battery, and there is other information
of useful character to be gained from
the study of these trophies.
The French soldiers have specialized
in aluminium rings and jewelry made
from the nosecaps of hostile shell, and
quite an ambitious industry has been
developed in this way. The British
prefer to work in brass, usually the
brass of empty cartridges and shell
cases. With infinite patience and few
tools they produce what the French
man calls peculiar objects Of the man.
telpiecS" Little model coal scuttles
with lets made of bullets, tiny coal
shovel worked up from a German rifle
cartridge: vases Of curious surface mot
tling made by indenting the brass OF
allied flags and well known heroes,
made from ration cases or brass-these
are only few of the things which
collector is offered by his own CON-
rades. There Is no end TO the ingenu-
fly and variety of the work OF the sol
dier craftsman, but his most familiar
work is in inkpots. candlesticks and dec
orative paperweights made from hand
grenades or the interior of shrapnel
shells.