Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-05-13
Battle CRY of Peace"
Gripping War Lesson.


Pacifists who snout against increas-
ing the army and navy for national
defense received body blow in 1.-The
Battle CRY of Peace" the film spec
tacle which opened at the Olympic
Theatre Sunday evening. In viviC
pictures and through sub.tities thos,
who decry war preparedness ar,
brought face to face with the disaster
that might ensue should a powerful
foreign nation invade our shores il
our present military state.
No attempt has been made b. j.
Stuart Blackuon, author of the play, t.
deal with his subject with kid gloves
Blunt, unvarnished and grim facts
were set forth by MIR. Blackton anC
Capt. Jack Crawford. who spoke from
the stage during the intermission u
the opening night. to sound warn
ing to this country.
The author has deviated far from
the beaten path in picture drama
building. To drive home his message
he shows war in ali its brutality and
grewsomeness, carrying his themes
into two peaceful homes which suffer
from the invasion of foreign army
An observer will not find the happy
ending prevalent in most picture pro
auctions. If he seeks the American
soldiers to repel the invading forces
at the end of the picture he is doomed
to disappointment The American
soldiers do have their inning with the
enemy. but suffer disastrous defeat
and bow to the enemy, accepting
peace at any price.
at the end of two and half hours
of startling episodes picturjng reali-
ties and fantasies by double photo
grsphy attended by an inspiring must
cal score and suitable effects" spec.
tators were heard to comment how
woefuily weak America is. Statistical
diagrams of population and wealth
ompare this country with other ma.
tions of Importance and show how ri
dIculously small is the army and navy
Uncle Sam provides to safeguard his
property.
Every patriotic American will be
thrilled and inspired by this play,
which distinctly is an American pro.
duction for American people, adapted
by an American from hudson Maxim's
book, Defenseless America - Hy-
phenated Americans will find nothing
offensive in the picture, for the enemy
comes from a mythical country. The
spy in the playa distinguished looking
foreigner who masquerades as
peace propag amidst, is called Emanon,
which read backward stands for "'no
name"
To pound home its warning. the
Vitagraph company constructed build.
ings and destroyed them with fire and
shell; bought locomotives to demolish
them in a spectacular incident; en-
gagged thousands of men and women to
portry invading soldiers and Ameri.
cans fleeing before the invaders. 1t
took scenes of New York at its height
of commercial activity and when it
was in the throes Of gayety The sea.
side resorts, with their gaypicnicers
making merry, oblivious of the threat
ening clouds which are about to break,
are pictured from life.
In the opening scenes Hudson Maxim
addresses a gathering on the necessity
Of preparedness, pointing out how
we'll prepared the belligerent nations
IN Europe were for the present war
and how poorly equipped this country
IS IN every wsy. Submarines are
shown in action and torpedoes are dis
charged at an imaginary foe The
boom of the cannon from the battle
ships and the disappearing guns on
land, accompanied by appropriate
sound from the orchestra are absolute
~ thrilling
After two reels of instructive and
inspiring film the helplessness Of iuno-
cents is depicted.
The characters are skilfully handled
bf Charles Richman. Norma Talmadee,
Louise Beaudet L. Rogers Lytton,
James Morrison. Mary Maurice. Fart
0erton. Lucille Hammill and many
others.
If some of the grewsome scenes in
the play appear bit drawn cut. they
firmly impress upon the observer the
basic motive < the play. The drama
is well staged and deftly acted.
Photographicslly The Battle Crv of
Peace" contains some surprises.
Through G. lex camera work a strug-
CLING humanity is seen IN the heat of
New York fleeing to escape the bombs
hurled from the shells of the enemy's
battelships
This great feature will be shown at
the Palace. tuesday. May 10th.