Press Release (Stars and Stripes, 1918) Unlike those Poilus who rushed manfully to the recruiting stations in 1914 expecting some sartorial glory in the form of a shiney cavalry breast plate or stylish bright red pantaloons, only to find that the constraints of modern warfare would only provide him with a filthy rat-infested trench and a poor-man's concept of a camouflage uniform (light-blue wool) - the American Doughboy at least had some time to figure out that he would not be as nicely turned out as his uncle was during the Spanish-American War. This odd notice was printed on the front page of The Stars and Stripes while most of the A.E.F. was still in training. The word was out by this time that the Campaign Hats they were issued back home were out -and so to counter the gripes, the army printed this balderdash to put a 'nice spin' on the "tin pot". It's not a helmet -- it's "a Steel Stetson"! http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/pdf/Steel Stetson.pdf
Of course, they were British made (originally!) and there was but a subtle difference in the construction of the liners...
