MAKING WAR WITH THE KINEMA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2665, 10 January 1916, Page 8

MAKING WAR WITH THE KINEMA

ITS MILITARY VALUE

(By Frederick A. Talbot, in tho "Daily Mail.") The muffled droning of ponderous iliachinery in motion, ' the subdued, hysterical screeching of water embracing heated metal, the pianissimo musical purring of electric motors, and tho frequent staccato thumpings of massive hummers pounding white-hot steel disturbed tho quietness and serenity of the little, darkened, though comfortable-ap-pointed apartment'.. At one end of the room was a long, covered table illumined by shaded electric lamps, enabling a litter of plans and tracings of drawings to be consulted with complete facility. At the opposite end of the rectangular room the wall was occupied by a white, silvery surface set in a heavy purple frame. A picture palaco in the heart of a workshop of destruction. 'The chairs around the table had been quietly occupied, and the distinctive humming of Che projector told that pictures full of life and vigour- were appearing upon the scaring, whitened wall. The portrayal was accompanied not by the . soothing or inspiriting strains from musical instruments, but an animated conversation carried out in somewhat low tones. I'lie discussion was as unintelligible to the as Greek; but the car, cafcliTng such words as pressures, velocities, degrees, elevation, and charges, appiccialcd that English was being spoken, although it was an English such S3 few can understand. The little knot of spectators followed tlie screen intently, and appeared to be as fascinated with what they saw as is the average picture theatre lover impressed by the adventures and exploits of Charlie Chaplin. But the conventional admirer of the "pictures" would have shuffled in his seat and have become somewhat bored had ho follbwed the incidents which were caused to \ stand out in- the full vigour of action upon tho screen in this privileged theatre; Tlie incidents were short, dis. jointed, and appeared to lack sequence, although phase followed phase with ra» uidity, and without the slightest pause.

The Big Cun Picture. Now and again there were fleeting glimpses of most fascinating operations, A big gun was being loaded, and one obtained a view such as is seldom possible. One saw every action incidental to the operation, but upon a larger scale, while there was an abnormal definition of minute detail, clearness, and vividness which is generally lacking. One saw the shell inserted, the brcccli swung to and locked, and finally the charge fired. But in this instance the camera was exceptionally alert. From the centre of the plume of the heated gases of combustion of the propelling charge which' issued from the mouth of the weapon rose a small, elongated, ! darkish object, and its flight .was followed with ease for the spaco of about four seconds. It was the shell, caught at- the instant of ..leaving tho mouth of the gun after being launched upon its long aerial journey, and travelling at tho velocity of 1800 miles an hour! The scene changed. In the centro oi the picture, standing out in impressivo boldness, was "what appeared to be tho butt of a rifle range. A dullish, smooth surface, evidently of a huge slab, was resting vertically against a massiv6 creation of huge timber. Scarcely had one taken in the object when thero was a brilliant flash, and the whole picturts was obscured. But the solid creation of timber could be faintly seen to ba moving backwards and falling into a, heap. The vigilant, searching eyo of tho camera, which had caught the shell as it left the gun, had now trapped the projectile at the instant it struck the target. That smooth, dull face-wall was an armour plate, which liad been set up to provide another contribution to the eternal problem of "gun v. armour." Olio gathered a faint impression of the terrific forco with which a big shell strikes its objective as one saw tho structure move backwards and uudergo disintegration, as a result of the pi'Oi jectile's impact. • If ouo looked'at the screen closely wlien ccrtain phases were being shown one could detect a small illuminated clock and hand staring out from the darkness of tiie sheet like a magnified radium watch. It was tucked away in one corner as if not to bo unduly obtrusive, and ouo might be pardoned for wondering why it had ever been introduced into the'picture. But that little flaming time macliino had an inseparable relationship - with tlio pictures in tho particular incident illustrated. Its steadily revolving hand was as attractive and as fascinating to the party present as the pictures themselves. That clock represented the "time factor." There upon the screen, so that one and all might see, was tho period of time required to perform a- specific operation, and recorded in hundredths of a second;-

Modern Artillery Tests. The scientific kinematograpli has revolutionised the whole method of carrying out artillery tests. Formerly the trials were followed upon the testing! grounds by expert observers, and if any photographic records were obtained tlioy were merely isolated and single pictures taken with the ordinary camera But now the raoving-picturo "comora witnesses the trials aiid brings back . an indelible record of the essential features, full of life and movement, upon a milo or so of sensitised celluloid ribbon. Tlio actual trials can now bo wit-r.es-sed over and over again within tho confines of tho darkened theatre, and the outstanding factor,, may be studied at length, at leisure, and with ease. Moreover, by following the trials kinematograpliically the observers are able to see a good (leal more than could possibly be taken in by the eye upon tlio testing ground. On another occasion a now-machine gun was being examined kinematographically, and in this instance an unexpected development, aroused concentrated interest. A close and enlarged view of the mechanism was being thrown upon the screen, the ejection of the cartridge being tlie object of particular, study. Each empty cartridgo case was observed to be ejected amid a slight cloud of darkish grains, recalling dust. These grains provoked considerable discussion and ultimately resulted- in a prolonged series of experiments. It was discovered that tlio dust was no more or loss than unconsumed particles of the propelling ciiargo. Tho. bullet was not being given the powerful initial push which it ought to receive as a. result of the detonation of the charge. The cartridge was deemed to be at fault, and forthwith improved until the kinematograph screen showed tho case going forth without any of the mysterious grains observed in che previous film. To-day, indeed, tlio moving-picture camera js considered to bo a vital scientific adjunct to tho manufacturer of armaments, offonsivo and defensive, and tho modem German bullet may be described as a product of tlio kinematograph.

Entries for the New Zealand I,can nml Mercantile Agency's T'ohnntanui stock advertised this morning. At Upper TLutt on January IS, l.lie New Zealand Loan and Mercantile will hold a general i'arin stock sale.