Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-06-10
THE COLOR OF OUR WAR SHIPS

The COLOR OF OUR WAX SHIPS
The order issued by the navy depart
ment about two years ago, directing
that iron and steel vessels should be
painted white instead Of black above
the water line. was well received both
in and out Of the service, says the New
York Sun. The change instantly took
the public fancy so that when the Chi
cago, the Boston, the Atlanta and the
Yorktown appeared in snowy Payment,
the name white squadron was promptly
given to them, and became much more
familiar than their official title, the
squadron of evolution.
Not only did white paint make the
ships more slightly, but it kept them
cooler in summer, and this was i'm
portant in tropical climates. The san
itary condition of the vessel as we'll as
the comfort of the officers and crew
was found to be improved by the coat
of white. A sufficient variety was
given by having the yards, tunnels and
30 on a straw yellow.
But now this question of color is
again under consideration, after two
years Of experience. One objection
found to white is its being too conspic-
uous at night, and therefore not
adapted to war service. A second is
the difficulty of keeping it neat and
clean, especially in humid tropical
ports, and with the frequent coaling
required in cruising. The argument
against 1t, with proposed substitute,
is put by Captain w. S. Schley in his
recent report on the Baltimore:
"Ships should not be painted white,
but lead color, with slight tinge of
green, like the French coast-guard
ships. White Is too conspicuous and
compels frequent repainting. In the
struggle just ended in Chile, the tor
pedo boats Almirante Lynch and Con-
dell were painted this color nearly, and
on two occasions, one at Iquique and
the other at Coquimbo, both vessels
entered these ports at night and were
scarcely visible a few hundred feet
away
The Importance attached to having
the uniforms Of troops of the right color
has received very general acknowledge
ment In late years. The gaudy hues
once fancied on account of the brilliant
appearance presented by the men have
been found to make them much too
conspicuous targets. So far has care on
this point been pushed that even the
famous German helmet h ls been con.
demned on account of its shining spil.e.
The gray uniforms which the Confed-
crate soldiers used to wear were excel.
lent from the military point of view.
and there are advantages, too. in
brownish hues. II is natural that the
question Of the best color for shins
should begin to receive also its proper
share of attention. Apparently. a
French gray or lead color would be suit.
vble for them, as for the uniforms of
troops, but other tints may be suggest.
ed 10y the difference between water and
land Surroundings. A peculiar reddish
brown has been spoken of as suitable
for the night service of torpedo boats
with a view to concealiug their an.
proach.
The advocates of white NAV insist
that II is best for station duty: that
lead color would not greatly change
the objections on account of coalinp.
aud that ii is an easy matter to repaint
the vessel in case Of hostiIities while
she is preparing in other respects for
actual fighting. We should then have
a cruiser putting ON her war paint
like an Indian, as token of serious
work at hand. Still, an acceptable
tint both for peace and war which
would obviate the present objections TO
white, might displace 1t altogether for
the hulls Of our ships.
-