Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-25
Enemy Camouflage is
Revealed by Cameras
of French A;rp'anes

The photogra phs which are now
taken from aircraft at the front are
of the utmost value to the reconnais-
sance service, which has become en-
tirely dependent, based, in fact, on
these lowering eyes of the army,
writes Nj. Gervais- Courtellermont, OF
Paris. an authority on photography N
flying.
AT the beginning of the war, tho
French were totally inexperienced IN
aerial photography: but as soon as
trench warfare set in and artillery
practice became the dominant factor
in actions. this Photographic branch OF
airplane service was improved each
day until brought to its present high
degree Of efficiency. for all reconnoi-
tering and fire control purposes.
AT first, ordinary cameras were used
and photos were taken at all angles,
but the capture Of German airplanes
disclosed the enemy's perfected cam
eras, equipped with wonderfully pre-
else lenses Of long focus (twenty
inches).
French Make Lenses.
The verdun army, especially.
studied the matter with care and pro-
crossed rapidly 1t made an extensive
use Of the captured German lenses, and
we were able. eventually, to produce
similar ones of even better quality.
at an initial cost of 100000. the
Lecour- Bertiot factory was started
with such success that today it is more
than on a par with the famous German
concern.
"The French firm has supplied the
army with cameras of the perfect pre-
cision necessary to, register with rigid
accuracy the position OF Shelters
trenches, batteries, etc, so that the ar
tillery may determine every range
without the possibility OF error
The photos are all taken vertically
beneath the airplane to facilitate and
expedite all calculations. A man may
be seen in a photo taken from an alu-
tude of $500 feet, and in clear wealth
er wonderful negatives are obtained at
height of 5000 feet and even 5000
feet, on 6xS plates G'rench dmen-
sions).
Photos Show Minute Details.
Every evening the aircrafts send
in to the Photographic service the
negatives taken during the day. Al
headquarters these negatives are de-
veloped at night, the printing is done,
and early next morning the prints
are distributed by automobiles. They
are delivered to the general staffs,
army corps. divisions and to the
chiefs of artillery sectors. The battery
commanders also get proofs when
ever they may be useful to them for
given point. according to orders.
The photos are so clear that, when
enlarged minute details of the enenty's
lines are perceptible. such as camou
fage shelters and gun emplacements.
The best results are obtained. of course
with strong light and clear skies, but
whatever the weather conditions, the
photos are always good enough to be
serviceable for the artillery.
In the French aerophotographic
service, the position OF the camera on
the aeroplanes is similar to that of the
English. 1t is always placed in order
that the observer may obtain yer
teal picture. This he does by having
the camera below him on direct line
with the objective trench, munitions
depot or train, etc. This is also ex
tremely varied as the types Of air
planes are many
Use Panchromatic Pi ties.
1.-The areophotographic organization
of the French army is extremely varied
and it might be said to be such or
ganization as the commanding officer
finds best suited to the topography over
which his unit is spread out. For ex-
ample the organization Verdun is
far different but superior to that in
the Champagne sector.
Regarding the number of aerial
photographers to d corps or army
wing. it changes constantly and is gov
erned by the number of men olsen
gagged The number is not definitely
fixed in the French army as it is in
the British.
Films are taken whenever it is pos
5ible as the weather conditions are
| rarely ideal In cloudy weather it Is
difficult. We often use panchronatic
plates with a yellow clear screen. to
distinguish painted from natural YER
dure. All camonfages are clearly re-
produced with the panchromatic
plates. Captured German cameras
show that the Germans also use pan