CAMOUFLAGE. In the World War of 1914-18 the old art of disguise
in warfare was raised to a science and given the new French
name, " camouflage." Under the new conditions of airplane
scouting it be came of supreme importance to conceal trenches,
forti fications, guns, "snipers," and observation posts.
Sometimes this was done by piling branches on the object to be
concealed. Sometimes it was covered with canvas painted to
resemble a natural object. At times "faked" fortifications and
batteries of " Quaker" (make-believe) guns were constructed to
direct atten tion away from the real fortifications and guns.
Screens of dense black smoke were often created to conceal the
advance of troops or the operation of ships. Often the
principles of "protective coloring" found in the animal world
were used, and guns, automobiles, freight trains, and the like
were painted in zigzag bands or blotches of light and shade, to
break up the sharp outlines of the object. Disguise of this sort
was applied especially to ships, not so