The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-20
INTERESTING STORY
SURROUNDS PICTURES
Many Difficulties Encountered
In Making Films Of "How
Britain Prepared"

Part OF the interesting story Of how
Charles Urban. official motion picture
photographer for the british govern
rnent took the pictures showing "ffow
britain Prepared" was cleaned Mt the
Beiasco. Theater today. Rroat part
CT the story will never be known be-
cause OF sworn condolences reposed In
MI, Urban. his associates, and photoga-
Practically every wsshingtonian who
has seen the wonderful pictures mt the
selasco wonders how the pictures we're
taken. This wonderment is heightened
by the knowledge that Great Britain
maintains the greatest possible secrecy
regarding, her naval operations. vet
scenes aboard all types Of British fight
Ing vessels In the vicinity of the Darda-
nelles and Helgoland the German naval
base. are shown. Even moro wonder
fol than these pictures are the ones
showing what a submarine csptsin sees
when he looks through. his periscope.
and the. firing of torpedccs from an
undersea craft.
Pictures Interesting.
The land pictures. showing the train
ing Of men for warfare. the digging of
trenches. the manufacture OF small
arms and shells by British noblowomtn.
and the making Of fifteen-lnch guns are
equally interesting. and their taking is
Involved In the story Of how Mr.. Urban
took them.
William J. Robinson, Mr.. Urbans as
ISOLATE In the presentation OF the pic
lures, which belong to the British gov
eminent. said today permission to ex-
hibit them In America was given on con-
dition that they be returned within a
year. that they be- presented In full
without change OF picture or title, and
that the productions be staged as edu-
cational rather than a commercial en-
"Mr. Urban worked for several weeks
before he succeeded In getting the per-
take these picturesy said Mr.. Robinson
today. "He had taken the durbar and
coronation pictures. as we'll as those OF
the investment of the Prince OF Wales.
fish archives. At the outbreak of the
war he began working to take pictures
OF naval operations and how Great Brit
ain prepared. After several weeks Mr..
Balfour gave his consent and authorized
him to join the British fleet.
Had Sealed Orders.
"With his photographers Mr.. Urban
Travelled to a certain place under sealed
orders. There he was met in the dead
of night by a man who took them to a
launch, and the next morning they were
aboard the dreadnaught Queen Eliza
beth. They spent three weeks aboard
this vessel 1,6Oo miles north OF London.
The pictures were taken in October and
November, 1915. But for special films
made Of pencromatic emulsion. the pic
lures could not have been taken because
Of the atmospheric conditions. The or
binary films would not have registered.
Great pressure had to he brought on
the British admiralty to allow the SUBJ
marine pictures to be taken. The perl
NAN. - - l..-
Ing of the entire set. was taken by plac-
ing the camera lens against the lens OF
the perfscope, thus showing just what
the submarine commander sees through
q periscope.
THE greatest secrecy was maintained
about taking these pictures. and there
is still a wealth of mystery about them
which can never be known.
ITO preserve secrecy as to the opera
ton OF British vessels. every ship is
equipped with an incinerator and no
paper. cans. fruit skins. or garbage
can be thrown overheard.
Was Reprimanded.
"one Of our photographers threw a
tobacco box overheard. and was severe
ly reprimanded by the commanding Of
ficer of the vessel for II. He was told
cans and garbage on the surface OF the
Atlantic marks the trail of the German
vessels off the coast of South America.
and II was by following this trail that
the British vessels located and destroy
ed the German ships"
Among the other striking pictures
which Mr.. Robinson said great efforts
had be exerted to obtain are those
showing the long lines Of zigzagged
trenches on Salsberry Plains and near
Dover for the use Of recruits. The re-
view Of 1900 loyal Irish soldiers,
among them being the Connaught
Rangers. Enniskillen Dragons. Dublin
Fusileers. and the Army of Ulster were
also difficult to obtain.
Mr.. Robinson said the pictures show
ing the destruction OF German block
house in Flanders with fifteen-inch
guns was taken at great risk to the
the blowing up OF the blockhouse with
the eighth shot. This is the only fight
ing picture in the set All the others
show How Britain Prepared"