The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-01-23

and enlisted. Sanger, HOyt, Foster
and Comstock are listed among the ar
chitects. All are young men but they
come from the best offices in the Unit
ed States and many already have made
names for themselves Leslie Thrash
er, who draws the striking frOntis-
pieces for the Saturday Evening Post,
IS a rookie in the awkward squad.
Men OF this stamp are appearing ut
the camp every day, and enlistments
are coming in so fast that Major Tracy
has had his hands full dealing with
them. The spirit of the command is
an inspiration to the layman.
While the achievements of the
French in camouflage are we'll known,
and the American organization Is in it's
infancy, it has been worth much to
the men to know that General Pershing
really Is eager for their services. Half
their day is given to experiments in
their own peculiar line, and they are
confident that the problems they will
be called upon to solve are relatively
simple. The art of concealment has
most to fear from the cameras of the
enemy, for many an object which APP
pears innocent to the eye is remOrse-
leSsly exposed by the lens and the
plate. Knowing this, the men are con-
Quoting series of experiments in col
grafton which are carefully being test
ed out photOgraphically. An artificial
green which would deceive a natural
list at few hundred yards might show
black under the merciless gaze Of the
camera, and the artists already have
mastered secret Of fOoling the lens.
They have invented grass which can
be turned out in quantities by ma
chine and used as a covering, and they
have learned so to color it that it will
defy detection. One Of their first ex-
periments was upon an humble latrine,
which they so disguised that at enemy
distance 1t was invisible. They have
taken to the trenches, and already have
discovered method whereby rifle
man equipped with a proper helmet.
can be so concealed that a whole regi-
ment might slowly arise from their
places to fire without the enemy noting
particle of change In the appearance
Of the background. The sniper or
sharpshOOters is one Of the most use
full soldiers on the battle front, and uni
forms are being devised which will be
indistinguishable from tree or land
scape. A fake road Is being planned,
at the end Of which will be placed
dummy cannon. while the real cannon
are concealed hundreds Of yards away.
One of the arts Of camouflage is to
make certain that the object to be con-
cealed contains all the color values Of
its background. and the artists know
that II one color Is omitted the object
at once becomes very noticeable.
The men are working in conjunction
with the Signal Corps Of the army at
Fort Myer, and their experiments will
be tested out thoroughly with airplanes
and cameras. It is not pretended that
the major part Of the training can be
undertaken In this country or that
these professional men, however high
their standing, can teach the French.
It has been demonstrated already, how
ever, in the month in which the first
increment has been in training, that
the company can acquire certain gen.
eral principles which will prove useful
in whatever work they may undertake
in the future. The combination Of ar
lists and architects Is a valuable one,
for while the colorations Of the one
group are necessary, the designs of the
other are equally important. The men
have no doubt, that the American ca
moufleurs will prove their utility on
the battlefield and that their work will
result In the saving Of thousands OF
soldier lives. The finishing touches
must be put on in France, but at Camp
American University the groundwork
is being laid for service which is
wholly unique in character and de-
handing as much Of patriotism, self
sacrifice and daring as any that Amer
leans on the European battlefront will
perform.-Boston Transcript.