Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-08
GRIM HORRORS Of WAR
ARE DEPICTED BY FILM
Actual Scenes at Front Shown by
Traveloguer Robertson at
Convention Hall.
ION Belgian Battlefields, Title of
Four Reels to Be Shown Twice
Daily ALI Week.

War with all it's horrors, utter waste
and devastation was pictured yester-
day when the four reels of motion pic
lures "On Belgian Battlefelds," show
ing actual scenes at the front, were
presented for the first time in WaSn-
ington before two big audiences IN
Convention Hall. 1t seemed to be the
opinion of those who viewed the PIC
lures that never has the meaning or
war been brought before an audience
more wildly and never has war TOLL
in lives and property destroyed been
forced home so realistically as by the
medium which The Star has brought
to this city for weeks exhibition in
connection with the travelogues by
Frank r. Robertson.
There was actual fighting lot OF
Tin the pictures which The Star mas
obtained direct from Photographer
Weigle. Machine guns. rifles and ar
tillery all were shown sending 1orth
their missiles of death. Men firing from
trenches were seen to fall wounded
and were carried to the rear. Others
were seen to fall, but were not carried
back. These were killed.
There was not Il great deal of the
spectacular, nothing of the brilliant
cavalry or infantry charges or posi-
tons carried by storm 1t must be re-
membered, however, that this war is
>
and the spectacular does not enter to
large extent. But it is war with all
the name implies. and no one realized
ii more fully than those persons who
saw the first exhibitions of the pic
lures.
Tour Begins in England.
The tour of Belgium really began in
England, where a glimpse was given OF
across to the continent, with passing
view of the French navy. Then ANT
werp was reached, and the trip across
devastated Belgium was commenced
Antwerp was shown first as it was
when Photographer Weigle reached it
The citizens moved about in their
everyday pursuits, apparently in no
thought of danger. Then came the
word that the Germans were coming,
which was the signal for hight from
the city Women old men and chill
dren made up the procession largely
their entire worldly effects tied up in
the first thing at hand-a bed sheet OF
a ia blecloth perhaps. AS the photog-
rapher brought his camera within close
range of the refugees looks OF con-
sternation and alarm could be dls-
cerned on their faces. Some were no
ticed to turn hurriedly and look to the
rear. the cause being a German shell
which had come from the lines beyond
and dropped into the nearly deserted
city.
Little touches of human interest were
in evidence all through the four reels. The
Belgian dogs, which came looping up to
the firing line, dragging after them the
machine guns which were Immediately
put in operation, were seen to start in
fright as a shell burst overhead. Artll-
lerymen, worn out from days of constant
fighting were shown snatching a little
sleep the gun carriages as they were
moved from one point in the battle line
to another. Soldiers carrying wounded
comrades from the front were pictured.
The war travelogue is a complete his
tory of Belgium during the past two
months. The burning of Antwerp, the
battle of Alost. the destruction of Ire
monde. the battle of Aerschot, the flood
ing of Lierre and the battle of Malines
all We're portrayed. But Traveloguer
Robertson did not confine himself to this
alone. He attempted to give by means of
his own pictures d correct representation
of the war in western Europe and of the
different countries involved. He gave
glimpses of France, with the leading men
of the nation. and. finally, after he had
shown Belgium, the country invaded, he
gave glimpse of the country of the in
Vaders. Germany.
Interested spectators yesterday after
noon were the Swedish minister and his
wife, w. \. +. Ekengren and Mrs. Eken-
gren.
To Show Pictures All Week.
The Belgian war pictures will con-