NAVAL BATTLE FILM

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 5, 7 January 1927, Page 7

NAVAL BATTLE FILM

THE CORONEL INCIDENT

PROTEST FROM RELATIVES.

(Prom Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, , 3rd November. A certain cinema film firm, with the active co-operation 'of the Admiralty, has begun to produce a picture of "The Battle of Falkland Islands." This is to include scenes at the Admiralty and of the encounters at Coronel and Falkland Islands.

At Coronel, it will be recalled, His Majesty's ships Monmouth and Good Hope were outranged by Admiral yon squadron and slink, and the •other British warships escaped. Heavy loss of life resulted, among the fallen SVW SV" Chrißt°l*er Cradock" Off the Falkland Islands victory over Admiral yon Spec's squadron was brilliantly achieved by the late Admiral oturdee.

Lieutenant-Colonel Montagu Cradock brother of Eear-Admiral Cradoek, who lost_ his life at Coronel,. has protested against the filming of this picture. This officer, who commanded the Fourth New Zealand Contingent in South Africa and served throughout tho Great Waicontends that.the film is'bound to be painful to the relatives of the men who died at Coronel. ■

British Instructional Films, Ltd the ' firm about to undertake the reeonstruoI tion of the naval incidents, 'report that | no protest has been made against their , previous war' films—"Zeebrusnre " "Ypres," and "Mons"— which have proved of unusual, interest - to -the British public. "Are we to film only British victories?" the company asks. COLONEL CBADOOK'S VIEWS. No official statement has been issued by the Admiralty. Colonel Cradock declares that he has had many letters irom relatives and friends, protesting against tho .inclusion of scenes showing the battered warships being blown up "When a land battle is filmed," 'ho says, "there is less certainty that the spectators will be seeing a reproduction of the death of their relatives. But if a named ship is blown up wo' know exactly who has perished in it. Coronel was not a battle at all.' Our ships were helpless, as they wore never able to bring the enemy .within range. As a matter of fact, the Falkland Islands engagement was more a punitive expedition than a battle. There was little glory in ( it, for Yon Spoe 's guns were never ablo to reach our avenging squadron. I do not, however, want to press that point,, for I am not arguing in favour of the suppression of scenes of this encounter also. But I do feel that a veil should be drawn over Coronel before the actual sinking of our shins is illustrated." ' *

It is pointed out that the Admiralty retains the absolute right of censorship, whatever tho film company may produce. Every.caption will be put under the official microscope, and every picture must be officially approved before it can be shown from the points of view of public policy, good taste, accuracy, and sentiment. x It is further stated that- the principal object of filming these naval encounters is educational, and that it is not at all likely that anything to shock the public mind .or ' wound the feelings of those whose re- , latives took part in these naval on- ' counters, will bo shown on the screen. COMPANY'S POINT OP VIEW. Officials of British Instructional Films have been great surprised by Colonel Cradock's protest. ■ "In the Zeebrugge film," they say, 1 "tho cinema audiences saw the ships | approaching the Mole under deadly fire; they saw men fall in action. There was not one protest. 'Why is the Battle of Coronel made an exception? Colonel Cradock refers to 'wholesale murder.' He does not ask us to suppress the scenes at the Battle of the Falkland Islands, where the German ships were sunk. Does he regard that as 'wholesale murder,' too? It is ridiculous to I speak of a battle as wholesale murder. Does he object to the filming of any sinking British shipf If he does, then he rules out the glorious end of the old Bevenge, which tfank, covered with honour, in the midst of its enemies. Or does ho object altogether to the iilmiug of a British defeat?

"We cannot think that his protest will carry any weight either with us or with the Admiralty."

Tho Admiralty are lending ships for the reproduction of tho battles,-, and actors representing Lord lusher, Mr. "Winston Churchill, and other Navy leaders of the times will figure in scones taken in the historic council rooms of Whitehall.