Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0323Description
A black and white stereograph. Image is of a soldier standing in a trench looking down. Above teh image "W95 (Star)" is printed, below the image "V18835 Camouflaged Trenches in Chemin des Dames Sector." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company Copyrighted, Underwood & Underwood, Inc. Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
Camouflaged Trenches in Chemin des Dames Sector.
Here is a chance for you to see some of the devices and means that the Allies employed to make their positions lasting and to keep them form being detected by the enemy. The French cleverly devised a way of attaching sprigs of pine and hemlock to wire netting, known in America as "chicken wire," then they spread it all over their gun positions and trench systems so that from an enemy trench or from an aeroplane it was exceedingly hard to determine just where the positions of the French forces were.
A heavier kind of wire netting can be seen along the side of the trench, used to prevent the banks from caving in. The flooring is of "duck boards" which allow the waters from heavy rains to pass through and under.
The lieutenant in the trench coat and Red Cross muffler is looking at the tripod of a Hotchkiss machine-gun, which was the standard heavy type machine-gun of the French army and was largely used by the machine-gun battalions of the American forces. You can see the seat for the gunner, the locking device that permits the hind leg of the tripod to be lengthened or shortened.
The large handle nearest to you is used to lock the piece when the horizontal angle has been detemined and the large wheel on the other side of the base elevates and lowers the screw which you can see.Collection
Photograph Collection