The Washington herald., 1917-04-20
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column In city.

Tne brush foolers VIII try their nano
at war. Modelling their organization after
the French Camouhage-the organization
OF French artists who fool the enemy
with their brushes--several hundred
American painters have offered TO put
their art at the disposal OF the govern
ment for war. 4Ns
A hundred American artists have met
with officials OF the government to talk
over plans and organization. It is clear
that in any campaign undertaken by
American forces. deceptive coloration will
have an important part. The artists are
ready to be detailed for service with Col.
Rooseveits division II it is sent to
France.
Many successes have been achieved on
the French front by the use OF deceptive
painting The scope OF the work done
by American artists is likely to take even
wider, aspect than that OF the French
Camounage. The undertaking has the
enthusiastic Endorsement of responsible
technical government experts.
Ultimately 1t Is figured that the organ
ization would number $500. with the CO.
operation Of scene painters and house
painters. Among the well-known artists
who are cooperating in organizing the
American Camouflage are E. II. Blash-
field. George De Forest Brush, Barry
Faulkner, William A Mackay, Abbot
Thayer, Daniel French. ]. Alden wier.
Herbert Adams, Paul Dougherty, cass
Gilbert. and Bertram Goodhue.
Tells of Activities.
Ernest Peixotto. a member of the
American Camouhage committee, who
has been in frequent correspondence
with artists OF the French Cafnoufiage,
tells Of the work of the French or
ganization which has its counterpart
on the German front
AT the heginning OF the war" says
Mr.. Peixotto. "the French artists went
into the lines and did effective work.
Later the older men were detailed to
do cartoons and make posters to stir
the spirit of the country. A group of
these men turned their hand to
making war supply depots, wagons,
motor trucks and trains dnvisible. Un-
der almost any conditions, whether in
woods or in open country, this decep-
tive art was found TO be successful TO
a great degree. 1t is almost impossible
now for aeroplanes to locate the
French batteries. There has been some
success in conceaIing moving trains.
and standing trains have been sffec-
lively painted out of the landscape.
The work is founded on the theory
Of the Indian who painted himself so
he would be lost In the desert when
hiding from animals or pursuers. The
trick is being used to conceal outposts
and observers who are stationed at
dangerous points. Many false posts
have been constructed for observersIs
Substituted for Dead Horse.
II have been informed in complete de-
tail Of how an outpost that proved OF
great service was substituted over, night
for a dead horse IN No Mans Land. The
dead horse lay between the lines on q
bit OF rising ground. During the night
the dead horse was removed and the
sculptors made a fake horse, which was
put out with a man inside. His business
was to remain there during the day and
come back to the lines at night to re-
port. As his post was above the German
trenches he was able to keep close watch
on the enemy's movements at that poin.
Among many instances showing the
extent to which deceptive coloration may
be OF service the one in which a village
street was actually faxed In very strik-
ing. 1t was desired to pass soldiers from
one part of the front to another past the
end of a village street which was with
in sight OF the German glasses and easy
ange OF their guns.
THE artists painted a street. prolohg-
ing II by perspective. and made IL seem
that there was still an empty street
Rehind this muslin scene soldiers passed
all day. long without detection and un!
disturbed by the enemy's guns. Such
work as this has its elements of grave
danger, Of course, as the least indication
that one side Is attempting to conceal
what is going on at certain point draws
concentrated fire from the other.
Construct Fake Roads.
'It has been possible to construct fake
roads of painted muslin to draw the
enemy's fire while important movements
of troops and supplies were beinG carried
out elsewhere. Painted netting hung
over the batteries conceal them success
fully by making them look like their sur
roundings. The possibilities of effective
deception have proved almost unlimited.
The French have carried it much the
furtherest, though their work has of
course been initiated by the Germans.
Each problem Is matter for individual
| study, of course. The artists in charge of
the work have the position of officers. 1
know OF one case in which an artist has
400 workmen under him.
THE American artists have had two
large meetings. the last of which was
attended by at least a hundred. The