THE BRODRICK CAP IN THE BRITISH ARMY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 219, 9 November 1904, Page 3

THE BRODRICK CAP IN THE BRITISH ARMY.

ONPOPULAEITY COMPELS WITHDRAWAL. Mr Sb. John Brodricir, British Secretarj of State for War, has been unfortunate in liaviu hia oamo given to two fail. ureß— an undesirable type of soldior sent to gouth Africa, and a cap «vh ch moved the public and press of England to derision; not to mention the Army. Tho i recent abolition of this notorious head- . gear has beea received throughout tho • Army with the utmost satisfaction, Tlio I cap, which svas like a pancako in shape, • waß first tried on tho Irieh Guards, but the scorn with *hich it was received did not detar the War Office f-oin extending 1 it throughout the Army. Jfc was most j unpopular in the I rmy, and many solj diere are said to bavo resorted to all sorts of pretexts to avoid wearing it. Only recently a soldier, who had com-* initted suicide, loft a note slating that the wearing of the cap was the cause of Jits act. Ho had received an injujy to his face in tbo Boer War, and the ugly headgear so emphasised this that hia . mind became unbalanced. I Its effect upon recruiting was disas- ■ trous, so much bo that a London paper wonders why it was nob abolished long '■ ago. " The Brodriek cap has killed tejcruiting," said a man who has'had a wide' experience in recruiting, to Mr Edgar Wallace, of the " Daily Mail." That! woll-tnoivn journalist, in' a recent article on the recruiting problem, relates a little incident which he saw at a recruiting station. A likely looking youth passing by attracted the attention of the recruiting officer, who said to him, " Well, my lad> want to Mist ? " Good pay, good food, and a happy life." 'the youth grinned and replied, " And wear a hat like that ? " pointing to the Ser. geant's " Brodriek.' On hearing- of the abolition one soldier declared that every man in his regiment would welcome the day when he could '* chuck the miserable cook's hat into the ashpit or convert it into a rag hearthrug.'* According to a recruiting sergeant the withdrawal of the cap will do a great deal of good to recruiting, every Boldier I that walked the street being " a fearful [ example to the crould-be recruit." Anj otlior soldier broke into verso on the joyous occasion, aud wrote the following : Farewell ! I take a long last look. Thy pattern, monstrous piece of cloth, Was chosan by that army cook Who did so often spoil the broth ! His meats were strong, his sauca dopressing. But Ou ! how dreadful was bis dressing. One paper goes bo far <ib to say that the news will probably be received by the •' Army wiih greater satisfaction tban any intelligence since tht battle of Waterloo."