The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-22
A. FLOATING WAR STUDIO.

Photography on an Ambulance Ship
An Odd Enterprise of the War De-
partment Mainly for Surgical Cases
A Permanent Record Wanted-Pic
lures of Battles From Balloons.
The "Yanko-Spanko war;" as they
call it in England, is to have it's photo
graphic side, and this aspect of the
conflict promises to be exceedingly in
teresting, as well as picturesque.
In fact, the government Is going to
organize a floating Photographic stu
dio, which will make pictures of every
possible incident in the great conflict
that is now beginning 1t will be
equipped, regardless of expense, with
all kinds of apparatus and appliances
for work of this description. Thus the
history Of the war. with Spain will be
recorded for the benefit of future gene
rations not only in writing, but also in
a vivid pictorial shape that will appeal
to the understanding Of the smallest
echooiboy.
The war department is managing this
particular branch of military enter
prise in q, way to insure the most com
prehensive and valuable results. For
obvious reasons it would be impracti-
cable to put photograph gallery afloat
exclusively as such; it would scarcely
be regarded as neutral by Spanish
ships of war, and one or two explosive
shells might wreck all the cameras and
the entire collection of dry-plates.
Hence the ingenious scheme has been
adopted Of placing the whole affair on
board of an ambulance ship.
In word, the war studio is to be
made a department of vessel that
voyages under the Red Cross The
craft is the John Englis-renamed the
Relief-which now lies at the navy
yard in Brooklyn. She is steel pas
senger steamer Of about four thousand
tons, and was recently purchased by
the government. Her speed is eighteen
knots, and In every way she is excel
lently adapted for the purpose in view.
Just at present she is being fitted up as
an ambulance ship, with cots and other
paraphernalia suitable for carrying
wounded men. She will be painted
white, with a huge cross in red on each
side to distinguish her as a non-com-
blatant.
The war studio will not occupy much
space on board of the vessel. It's most
essential feature will be dark room,
which may be located in any part of
the ship that happens to be convenient.
Much of the actual photographing will
be done in the operating room, where
the surgical work for the wounded is
performed. A pictorial record will be
kept Of the ceases" treated, which is
expected to be of the greatest value to
medical science. The taking of snap
shots of injured men is no exhibition of
heartlessness, but scheme for obtain
ing knowledge that will save suffering
to others in the future.
The name of the government photo
grapher selected to take charge Of this
work is not permitted to be mentioned
at present. Suffice it to say that he is
a man of the highest distinction in his
profession, and better equipped for
such business probably than any other
living expert. He is also practical
electrician and a bacteriologist of note
both of which accomplishments will
have special value for reasons present
" to be mentioned. His acquaintance
with electricity will be of particular
use in the management of a biograpll
or vitascope apparatus, by means OF
which it is hoped to get moving photo
graphs of various interesting incidents
of warfare
It may not be practical to secure
moving photographs of big sea battles
for reasons that are somewhat obvious
Smoke in volumes is apt to obscure
such scene, and the ambulance ship
unlike the hospital vessels, will not fol-
iS dictiOn-
ton between the ambulance ship and
the hospital ship. the latter being es-
pecially a naval adjunct, intended for
the accommodation of wounded sailors
while tie former is for army use. The
Relief, for example, will be in effect a
transport between Cuba and the United
States, provided with arrangements for
caring for sick and injured soldiers.