The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-08-16

vision ends chapter in military cam
outage In America. A little more
than year ago 1t was doubtful wheth-
er or not the army would have any
great use for camoufleurs In the forces
abroad. BY the recent decree mill
tary camoutlage is made an essential
In every regiment, like engineering
trench digging, map making road
building, and sharpshooting There
are now, according to military camou-
heurs In New York city, about 500 ex-
pert camouileurs abroad with the Per-
shlng forces. The new order makes
Il necessary for each regiment in every
training camp on this side to have
at least 10 camoufleurs to train other
men In the new art of camoufiage.
Whence will these new camouiieurs
come? Who Is 10 make them prof.
Client. when even the best.trained "old"
military and naval men admit igno-
rance?
Until the airplane came In the cav
airy was the scouting arm of the army,
says writer In New York Times.
Now a large part of the cavalry of
the United States army has been dis
mounted and put to machine guns.
The airman Is the scout This was
the chief factor In raising camou-
fage to Its present rank of impor-
lance. A mounted scout could scarce
ly be deceived by artificial camouflage.
Now the scout passing at heights OF
about 1900 feet cannot tell whether
the camouflage, If clever, Is artificial.
His kodak, however, is not so easy to
fool. 1t will record many things
which escape the eye
For that reason lights and shades,
depressiops and knobs in the terrain,
and shadows have to be carefully stud
led by the military camoufleur. That
makes 1t necessary for him to know
shade and tone value as they register
on the eye of the blrdman and on the
camera lens
Under the instruction Of Lieut.. Fl.
Ledyard Towle of the Seventy-first in
fantry is the New York division of
military camoufage. in which the
men belong TO the new National army
and wear the uniform and insignia Of
the engineers, and on the sleeve the
letters M. Military Camoufleur.
They include landscape gardeners, art
lists, miniature painters. portrait
painters photographers. woodworkers,
mural decorators, craftsmen, and en-
gineers, 1t Is probable that these men
will be used to instruct the various
regiments In military camoutlage.
Methods OF Teaching.
An observer need only follow these
camouheurs TO the 60-acre tract which
the city of Yonkers donated to Lien
tenant Towle for camouilage work or
into their great classroom Ia New
York city. to get an Idea OF the chief
methods of teaching the value Of de-
pressions, color values, lights and
shades, and locations. There arc ad.
Unstable wires that tilt the miniature
terrain boards TO just the desired
slant, SO that the soldier can view
them from the angle Of sharpshoot-
or, rs IL from an airplane. from the
rear or from In front. Gauzy curtains
create an Illusion Of various lights at
different hours Thus light blue cur
talns make the twilight just before
dawn. Light rose and blue and yell
low make dawn, MONDAY, and dusk
curtains the evening.
From 1900 feet telephone poles,
eamouiiaged, disappear. Dugouts with
a path crossing over the roof are ike |
the side OF the hill. Even the gray,
blue and red eaisson wagon moving
along the road is blur OF color. |
Canyases In triangular shape tied to