Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 140, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1916 — FEW STEEL HELMETS USED [ARTICLE]

FEW STEEL HELMETS USED

Type Selected by British Government Condemned as Unsuitable in Service. London.— Although it is quite a long time since the war office became convinced that steel helmets are perhaps the most useful detail in a soldier’s equipment and, notwithstanding the French reported as the result of their experiences in the Champagne battles that these headpieces made a reduction in the casualties of almost ten per cent, comparatively few are in use by the British force's. The delay is due, so it is said, to the number of types with which tha British war office has been experimenting. The one fixed upon at the outset, which is still in use, has been condemned as unsuitable. It is tbo heavy and lacks the necessary leather lining of the French headgear, which is very serviceable, and also very handsome. It is light blue, to match tha men’s uniforms,. Every officer and soldier in the French army wears the steel headpiece, in the Verdun fighting General Petain is never seen without hlg helmet. The German military authorities have been even more dilatory in providing this kind of protection for their men than the British. It has been furnis'lted in a few regiments, but the percentage of men using them is very small.