The Washington herald., 1918-08-27
Last Night at Theaters.
peI...s-.A-e,,.,,. A..ver.-

BeIasce-aAmerica's Answer.s
All America seemed to be looking
on ana cheering a. the first showing
Of the new official war film. Amer
ica's Answer." unrolled itself before
the admiring eyes at the Belasco last
night II IL q wonderful film. one thar
Americans at home--fathers and moth
ers brothers and sisters, wives and
sweethearts OF the boys over there
are going 70 sit entranced before, with
the feeling. as one woman IN last
nights audience expressed Il, 'sIf they
only would stop long enough for one
to scan the faces / feel sure that 1
would see my boy" Ana a. another
one said. wonderingiy, ITO think that
Leon, my little brother, 10 part Of all
thst-doing those things. seeing those
sights, Drawing those dangersr'
From one point OF view q was 'just
soldiers'-no thrilling battle scenes,
no breathless moments Of suspense,
such as one lived through In watching
Hearts Of the World" or The Birth
OF q Nation" II 10 Just soldiers, on
the. march and atsrest. eating. sleep
ing, playing, nghting-only q few
scenes Of actual battle. and those hard
to take In, they seem 30 tame AZ COM
pared with some Of the great roman
tic war films that have been shown.
But IL is wonderful and Q proud
record Of accomplishment. and one
that no American can possibly
watch unmoved. II is a wonderful
and a proud record Of q nation arm
ing itself overnight and going forth
blithely in the morning to battle for
the liberties Of mankind. II IS above
all q record for labor to be proud of
of skilled workmen who have
cheerfuliy given up their cherished
union wage, and putting on uniform
accepted the pay and the discipline
OF soldiers in the ranks. yet in many
instances working at their trade az
they never worked before-buildins
locomotives. putting up buildings.
laying tracks, translating nearly all
the Industries Of peace to the battle
front, and working almost under
IRE at their old trades that the men
who are fighting may be supplied
with all the requisites OF war. Few
realize what tremendous factories
Uncle Sam 10 establishing "over
there" II 10 grippingly interesting.
and thrilling beyond words.
And last nights audience was grip-
ped and thrilled. It was largely an on
cial audience. The President and
Mrs. Wilson were there. and the
greater part Of ''the fighting Cabinst'
that the picture showed. The White
House party occupied the box in the
middle Of the mezzanine, the Circle
Of the Ambassadors" as the theater
likes 20 call II, which the President
himself selected as his preference at
the Belasco rather than the stage box
which has always been considered
sacred to him. They had with them
Miss Benham, DIR. Stockton Axson
and Miss Benham- Just behind them
were Secretary and Mrs. McAdoo, Mr..
Baruch and the Hoovers. In the ad-
joining box were Secretary and Mrs.
Lansing. and DR.. Brum and others of
the special mission from Uruguay. A
little farther around Secretary and
Mrs. Baker and their children occu-
pied a box. Not the least interested
was George Creel himself On the
other side were the Postmaster Gen.
eral. Mrs. Burleson, and his two
daughters: Mrs. Lane and Miss Nancy
Lane. and Just behind, Secretary
Lane A little farther along Maj.
Gen Barnett and a group Of Marine
officers: and still farther Secretary
and Mrs. Daniels and two OF their
younger sons. and Miss wanamaker
who are visiting them from PhilsdeI-
phia-
The place was thick with army and
navy men, practically all Americans.
Gen. SQuier. Gen. Mcintyre. Admiral
MCGOWAN There were comparatively
few foreign uniforms in all that audi
ence. and there were almost none Of
the diplomatic corps. Senators and
Representatives. many OF them alone.
or In little masculine parties. their
wives being still away. and also in
some instances groups Of women. One
quartet OF Senator's wives headed by
Mrs. Swanson seemed to have left
their husbands at home.
There was much visiting hack and
forth between the boxes during the
intermission. the Baker children in
vading the Daniels box. Mrs NcAdoo
over talking with Mrs. Lansing, the
President leaning this way and that
to greet some Official several rows
away. and the entire audience greatly
Interested in watching the movements
Of these celebrities.