"SONS OF OUR EMPIRE "

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3193, 18 September 1917, Page 7

"SONS OF OUR EMPIRE "

' A NOTABLE WAR FILM

Owing to the execrable weather, the audience which witnessed the newest Government war film, "Sons of Our Empiro" (taken under the auspices of the War Offlpe and the Admiralty and shown at the Town Hall last evening), was not large as it; might otherwise have been. The picture is really a vivid dooument of war as it is, and from its comprehensive character is both highly interesting and extraordinarily educative to all who would learn of the great war. "Sons of Our Empire" is a. good title, for the picture shows all branches of, tho servico at work, commencing with the fascinating men of the Royal Naval Air Service, operating in seaplanes from cue of their ehoro bases arfd also from the mother ship Engadino (from which-(kw the 'piano that iiret spotted the German Fleet prior to tho Battle of Jutland). These views includod somo pichiresrjuo snaps of the 'planes wheeling and iooping among tho clouds, with the chequered countryside and sea-con&t visible at a dizzy debth below. How the Engadine mothers the 'planes ie capitally illustrated at closo quarters. Following the seaplanes come the submarines, loading up at the base with wicked-looking torpedoes. E23 ■ (which, sank the German battleship Nassau) is shown putting out to sea, submerging, and then rising to the eurface and going into action. Tho speed at which the decks aro opened up and tho gun gets into play is eomothing incredible, showing at a glance what damage one of these oraft could do in ten minutes on the surface. lYom the ■war toilers of the sea the , picture moves into tho sphere of military operations in France. Tho troops—Bedfords, Devons, North. Hants, Dorsets, Grenadier Guards, Royal Irish, Canadians, Scottish, and Australians—are shown moving gaily up to tho front in full kit; jaunty, debonair, and smiling, they pass the camera man to a duty that may mean death or disablement. These aro the bravo fellows who are fighting for us all, and whom the proceeds of the picture'entertainments are to benefit. The advance to the front is arranged in proper sequence. Gradually one comes upon tho big pins and howitzers firing immense projectiles at the enemy's lines in the desolate distance. An enormous, observation balloon is dispatched to the clouds to direct the {run.; fire, and gradually the audience is drawn right up to tho front line, where the 18-pounders are putting up a barrage prior to a general advance. Then comes tho piece do resistance in the tanks, lumbering up to the front line to play their vicious part in tho advance. There is old "Creme de Menthe," covered in mud, but still dreadfully murderous in aspect, and a little more active and less cater-pillar-like is "Daphne," which plunges and rears in tho broken ground liko a whaler in a cross sea. until she comes to rest in a crater hole at an anelo of .45 degrees. Then comes the "up and over order"—all lines advance, the suns work at fever speed—the Australian eunners, stripped to the waist—there is a lumbering charge over "No Man's Land, a view of the'shatterert German line, and i maddened Huns rushing into glad cap- I tivity with upraised hands. After the . battle troops are seen scarchinjr the holds'for snipers, the medical men and strotcher-bearers are depicted at thengrim work, and the hundreds of prisoners are seen being examined, and then passed to tho rear. Finally are shown views of tho troops, which have taken part in the victorious advance, marching back triumphant to their billets. The saddest sight of all is the grievously devastated country, and the great cometery dotted with crosses over the heroes who have "cone West." "Sons of Our Empire" is a picture all should makes one realise the responsibilities, not. only of tho gallant fighter in tho front line, but of the noncombatants at home. Tho picture will be exhibited every evening during the present week.