WAR PICTURES

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 68, 18 September 1917, Page 9

WAR PICTURES

"SONS.OF THE EMPIRE."

The first series of official -war pictures exhibited by the V.M.C.A. dealt solely! with the operations by land. The second series, shown at the Town Hall for the'first time last night, under the title "Sons of the Empire," illustrates the work of all the 'main- branches' of British arms—6n sea, on land, and in the air. The pictures are" intensely interesting, ar.d, except for:one small' section, where j flicker and scratches rather spoil the effect, are excellent examples of kiiieniatography, apart from their great topical and historical value. Because it deals with amis of. the service that are not familiar in these parts, either in reality or .in moving pictures, the naval section i of the films calls for first mention. One gees the operations of the Royal Naval Air Service, with powerful seaplanes lieing launched from the sheds and setting out on their reconnaissance journeys. Bomb-dropping and looping the loop are illustrated, and there are views from 'aj seaplane 6000 feet tip.. In the same, section are pictures of H.M.S, Engadine, the seaplane's, sea-home, from which the pilot started who brought the first news of the German Fleet before the Battle of Jutland. Submarines are also shown, in dock, at sea, and submerged. , One does not wonder, on observing the small wake left by the periscope even in smooth water, that the presence of these vessels is not easily discovered. Near views are given of submarine C 23, which, ten days after, the photograph was taken, torpedoed the German battleship of the Nassau class. Other capital-, pictures are thoso of H.M. ships Lion, Tiger, and Chester, the last-named being ,the vessel on which, in the Battle of Horn's Reef, the youth Jack Cornwell gallantly stood by his gun after all other members of the gun-crew had been.killed. The big hospital ship Garth Castle is shown dealing with wounded meu bio'ught in by a drifter. Another intensely interesting and novel section of the'iilms is that devoted to the work of the air services oil lane}. There are near-hand views of the machines and distant views of carth —the German lines as seen from n. height of 13,000 ft. One btfeomes quite giddy in watching the views of the earth ns seen from a 'plane descending in'a. spiral from ..6000ft, and landing at 70 miles an hour. In the section devoted to the land forces one follows all kinds and. classes of ti'oops, from the disembarkation in ■•France, through billets, camps, iiiitl bivouacs to the fio'ut trenches and beyond. Theiv an; Dunhams. Bedfords, Suffolkv, Guards, Indian Cavalry. Bantams, Canadians, Australia-tie, and New

Zetilanders—artillery in difficulties in the mud, "tanks" rambling on. to the front, and cheering, niuddy soldiers marching everywhere. The .pictures of actual bat : tie are clearer than those shown previously. The . Canadians a.re seen. leaving their trenches and advancing at a vusli ovei No-Man's Land to the capture of Courcellette. Then there are the regiments of the Guards Division-advancing with a "tank" on Morval. The battle' torn, shell-plbughed country .after the fight,-the'medical services, the prisoners^ and the. return of the victorious troops, are also shown. ' ' ' i The pictures will be screened all this-' week, with ■ matinees on Wednesday and Saturday. All'the proceeds go directly to supply the needs of the fighting mcii at home arid abroad, the funds, being divided between, different "movements u'c-j cording to a scheme approved by the Government. . . i