Narragansett Herald

The Proposed New Headgear For the United States Army.

The War Department of the United States now has under consideration a change in the headgear of the soldiers and officers to replace the forage cap and helmet now worn in the service.

The Detroit Free Press publishes cuts of the proposed innovation. The forage cap, intended for all branches of the army, is what is known as the German pattern, and it is claimed for it that the visor, being turned down instead of being straight, gives more protection to the eyes. The top is soft and pliable and has the advantage of keeping the head cool. Many officers favor its adoption, while not a few look upon it with disfavor, owing to the fact that it is almost the exact counterpart in shape, but, of course, not in material, of those so frequently met with on the heads of emigrants from the Fatherland.

The other design, known as the busby, is for the cavalry and is exactly similar to that worn by the Eighteenth Hussars, of the English Army. It is made of black astrakhan cloth, and will weigh, complete, about ten ounces. It also has a sloping visor, but very small. The cut shown is for officers. For enlisted men it will be the same minus the pompon or top ornament. Every cavalry officer at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, twenty in all, favor its adoption.