The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-08-25


camouflage have effected radical
changes in the painting of ships to
protect them from the enemy. Mod
ern naval warfare no longer reck-
ons upon "invisibility," as defen-.
sive factor, authorities having ar
rived at the conclusion that paint
itself being dependent upon light,
will not overcome shadows. BAT
lie painting" has been developed as
q substitute to deceive submarine
tommander as to the size and form
pfa ship and her course and speed.
Camouflage on land still is sue
eessfully applied along the lines OF
protective coloring, by which guns
and roads and men are made virtu-
ally invisible under screens which
conditions are constantly changing
and the elusive horizon always dif-
ficult matter to deal with, similar
principles were found less efficient
than those which frankly admit the
existence of a boat, but by peculiar
color schemes offer the torpedo such
a queer, deceptive target that hit
is only matter of luck.
~ Lieutenant Commander Norman
Wilkinson, Royal Naval Volunteer
Reserve the inventor OF battle
painting" came to the conclusion
after long experiment that the mo-
:ment submarine comes to the sur
face within strikingi distance, no
method of painting would render a
ship sufficiently invisible to escape
being seen.
= There was a time" the artist
says, "When l thought it possible to
increase or decrease ships visi-
bility. But that was before the sub
marine was considered as real ac-
tive factor in naval warfare"
Submarine Hydrophone.
Sc His decision took into considera-
ton submarine hydrophone, by
which the presence of ship, her
probable size and her course can be
ascertained under water. The prob
lem therefore was resolved into rem
dering the ship as difficult to hit as
possible and battle painting, the
only nationally. accepted method OF
marine camouflage, was evolved.
" Battle painting is simply a project
for breaking up all accepted forms
of ship by masses of strongly coll
.ors, distorting her appearance so as
to destroy her general symmetry and
bulk. The idea is totally to mislead
the submarine. Of course some ves-
sells so painted have been also sunk,
but there are records of far great
er number at which torpedoes were
fired unsuccessfully. Equally i'm
portant, much larger proportion
of painted vessels which are hit by
storpedoes are able to make port
tkian ships painted gray, owing to
Yexplosion in less vulnerable parts.
The aim of the submarine is thrown
off by the camouflage.
Frequent reports, appearing some
times in the newspapers, confirm
the success of the system, and prove
its value of defense against the sub
marine. The newspapers recently
contained story of an encounter
between a painted freighter
and a German U-boat in which the
latter was rammed and sunk. The
article concluded with this pertinent
paragraph.
The theory bearing on the Incl
dent held by shipping men is that
the system of camouflage designed
especially to elude submarines de-
ceived the German commander. On
his assumption he mistook the
course held by the ship, and instead
of coming to the surface at right an
giles to the course, got squarely in
the way"
Is A Clever Story.
A clever story is told OF meet
ing between an excursion steamer
and a vessel outward bound from an
Atlantic port to dare the submarine
under protection of her BATTLE color
design. The passengers crowded the
excursion steamers side to gaze at
the queer boat, which ploughed
steadily forward. Apparently the
camouflage steamer was heading
straight for the heavily loaded pleas
ure boat and when a woman
shrieked. panic was imminent.
Shut up, you fool" yelled man
who understoor the principles of
battle painting. She's heading six
points off"
1t was true. The camouflage had
- changed the aspect of the boat
That she seemed to be going in a di-
rection where she was not heading
That is the purpose of BATTLE paint
ing-to keep U-boats guessing as to
whether their prey is coming or 60
ing"
Marine camouflage is under the
direction of the Navl Department,
with the work executed by the Ship
ping Boards Department of Camou-
1age, headed by Henry c. Grover,
of Boston.
In each district of the Shipping
Board is stationed District Camou-
flage, with a corps of trained men.