The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-07-07
FIFTY AMERICAN ARTISTS FORM
AN ASSOCIATION FOR CAMOU-
FLAGE TO AID THE ARMY.
TO DECEIVE ENEMY
Painted Canvas and Other Means Used
TO Conceal Guns from Hostile Obser-
yation--Camouflag Slang Word
Among French, Signifying Faking.

New York Times: Fifty young Am
erican artists. under the auspices OF the
American Association for Camonflage'
and of Columbia University, will soon
set out for Camp Columbia, Bantam
Lake, Litchfield, Conn.,, on an expedi-
tion which may result in the creation
of an entirely new and tremendously i'm
portant branch of the United States
army-the camouflage corps.
Camouflage is slang word current
among French artists meaning taking,
and since the war began IT has become
synonymous with one of the newest
military arts-the art of concealing
things from hostile observation, by air
plain or otherwise. through painted can
vas, branches Of trees, or some similar
means
The French had conducted some ten
tative experiments in camouflage be
fore the war began, and they were the
first Of the warning nations to recog-
nize the immense Importance and TO
organize a distinct corps, drawing its
personnel from the ranks of the young
er French artists. architects and scene
tablished and busy branch of the French
army The Italian army also has a
well organized and efficient camouflage
corps, but the British have Jagged be-
hind in this respect, and the United
States war department has so far done
little beyond theoretically recognizing
the need Of something Of the sort.
The American Association for Camou-
flage was organized some time ago to
Blashfield as chairman, S. f. Fry as
secretary and a membership including
nearly every prominent member Of the
Academy OF Design. The association
already has several hundred men en-
rolled for duty in the camouflage corps
as soon as the war department organ
ICES It, and Mr.. Fry is confident Of his
ability. when the call comes. to enlist
any number that may be required.
AS the corps will be a distinct organ
ration, with sufficient employment to
fill all its time in its own speciality. the
association considers that special mill.
tary training for its members need go
little beyond the rudiments. II has
drawn up a tentative plan Of organiza'
tion. under which a camouflage com.
pany Of $50 men will be attached 10
each division OF the regular army. under
the direct command Of the corps com.
mander.
The company commander VIII proba.
bly, be a regular army officer. but the
non-commissioned officers may be Sc.
lected from leading artists-landscape
preferred-and the rank and file from
among young art students Of ingenuity
and promise. scene painters and simi.
lar trades, with a sprinkling Of carpen-
ters and handy men Of all trades. Mr..
Fry expects 10 call an immensely val.
liable contingent from among the vast
army Of moving picture scene builders
in and around Los Angeles.
The navy has already gone ahead Of
the army in enlisting the services Of a
number OF distinguished marine artists
as volunteer camoufleurs, and without
going so far as to trespass upon for
hidden ground. II may be said that they
have already proved their value in APP
plying protective coloration to ships at
sea, and in some respects, II is believed.
have gone further in working out sci.
entfic methods OF decreasing the vlsi.
bility OF men-ofwar than any other ma.
Wy OF the world.
The object Of the expedition 20 Camp
Columbia is TO enable the artists oonsti-
tuting II TO work out in practice some
methods Of camouflage on land which
they have already evolved in theory, in
conjunction with the training camp Of
Columbia men, who will have the bene-
fit Of instruction by veterans Of the
Canadian expeditionary force. They
hope that some OF their ideas will prove
a distinct advance upon the best meth.
DDS OF camouflage yet worked out.
Abbott Thayer, among the artists, has
worked out a method OF applying pro
tective coloration TO uniforms TO III any
particular landscape or background.
which II is believed. win make a man
absolutely invisible at a very short dis.
tance. so long as he does not deliber.
atcly make himself conspicuous.
While az Camp Columbia, also. the
artists win practice hiding cannon and
motor trucks and building Quaker guns
and mock ammunition dumps 20 hare
the enemy 10 waste his fire; shielding
roads and camps. and other branches OF
the art. They are hoping al present 10
obtain an airplane 10 cooperate with
them by flying and trying to discover
the objects which they have hidden
thus giving them a practical test Of the
efficiency OF their work.