The sun., 1917-09-09
USE Or PAINT
Vast Strides Made in Low Visibility,
Craft Appearing to Blend With
Sky at Slight Distance
D ROBERT q. SKERRErr.

D. ROBERT q. SKERRETT.
n 10 tanksrs have been pr~tty ~
X quent prey to Teuton U-boats.
- The Central Powers know full
vtal how vital to military operation -
. sumc1sncy q gasolsne and on fueL
nsrsfors they have striven early and
hts to intercept tankers bound for
enemy ports. ana because Of tho rela-
tivaiy low speed Of vessels Of this
type - . class tho submarines have
I'll too often found them easy marlzA
Conditions have changed Of late, how
ever. and heavily laden oilers have
been slipping by tho Gordon Of lurking
U-boats.
This they have achieved largely Be-
cause Of the cunning Of some Of our
colorists.
Maritime camouhase Is turning the
trick, and tho submarine commander
is being made the victim Of an optical
shell game that is putting on the blink
the aids to sight furnished him by the
laboratory expert. Camoufiage IL 60
ing to play a very important part in
our owGsea operations. because largely
upon this method Of protective color
ing or partial concealment will depend
the safe carriage OF troops across the
Atlantic as well as the transportation
Of the millions Of tons Of supplies that
will be needed for them abroad.
In this work Of securing low visit
blli,y the navy. inspired by the
Naval Consulting Board. has taken
the lead for tactical reasons. and that
1t is likely to accomplish wonders in
this direction Is to q large extent due
to the patriotic labors of a handful OF
American artists and the professional
zeal Of a few naval officers. The COM
forting part of the situation Ii thai
20 much has been done that our mari
time authorities are now in . position
to prescribe definite lines OF proce-
dure, and 1t is not overstating tho case
TO say that we are abreast the best II
not in advance of the rest of the worlc
in nautical camoufiage.
Vessels that bulk large become vel
nigh invisible q mile or two away un'
der certain conditions Of light and at
mosphere. and though their presenc<
may be detected in the distance al
other times it is next to impossible te
establish their identity or to get 9
clear image Of their form or silhouette
against the sky.
New Yorkers will shortly be treated
to a kaleidoscope array OF shipping
that will make them wonder whether
an army Of irresponsible cubists has
been let loose upon our transatlantic
craft. Some Of US have already had q
foretaste of this in the occasional sigh,
Of naval tug. submarine chaser OF
a converted yacht bespattered WIFE
colors like an Oriental pheasant. The
reason for these rainbow tints was moi
apparent because the craft. seen close
by IN the harbor, were in nowise di.
minished in their visibility. Just the
lame, when they slipped through the
Narrows and got we'll off in the Lower
Bay something happened. At first they
seemed to come and go against the Sky
screen like shifting lantern slides
and then. when ones straining eyei
began to hurt, the vessels suddenly
vanished!
Means Lower Insurance Rates.
The United States Treasury Depart
ment is so satisfied with development
In this field of protection for our mer
chant craft that 1t has issued regu
lations upon the subject and has pre-
scrbed that every ship departing from
this country after October l bound Il
Europe shall be duly camoufiaged, or
falling in this, that insurance rate
Shall be increased accordingly. Ac
cording to the order issued by the Sec
retary Of the Treasury, leach vesse
shall be painted In accordance witt
one of the systems that are recon-
mended by the chairman Of the Nava
Consulting Board and the Ship Pro
lection Committee of the Emergenc!
Fleet Corporation. as approved by tn
Bureau Of War Risk Insurance"
The story Of protective coloring ap
Piled to the arts Of war Is an In
teresting one. but also Q long one
therefore 1t IL now practicable onl'
10 deal with the maritime phase Of tn
subject and to sketch briefly the prin
ciples that have been applied hereto
fore. During our civil war grays Q
various shades were adopted. the Con
iederates setting tho example by paint
Ing their blockade runners bluis
Unit that simulated the lower ok
coloring or the prevailing hase over
ylng the water. This did not hel
materially when the cs'aft appsare
above the horizon backed by . lumin
Gus sky. However. Il made the ship
less conspicuous than those With blac
hulis. then the commonly adopte
COlOP In naval rerAyA~