New Britain herald., 1918-04-09
LIES OF film TO
AMUSE SOLDIERS
build Reach From San Francisco
to Trenches in Lorraine

Ney York, April Six thousand
les of film. enough to stretch from
IN Francisco across the United
htes, the Atlantic Ocean and France.
most to the farthest American
Gnch in the Lorraine sector, are un-
eled every month before the light
men of the nation, whether they
in the United States, on tho Attain
OcAan or in a Lorraine trench. The
velopment of the system required
this enormous distribution IS one
the wonders of that wonderful in
slstry-the motion. picture. The Ma
bnal War Work council Of the
bung Mems Christian association,
Responding to the call of the govern
lent, has accomplished this wonder
few short months.
The only place where the films do
Hot follow the fighters Is into the
&ouds. On land and ship, in fort and
4kench, the projection machine
bounds 1t is estim ated that the
Z. M. c. A. directs a. chain of motion
&icture theaters that comprises an
4yerage of one theater for each unit of
600 or 5000 men who have re-
kponded to the call to the colors. AT
Earnu Dix, in Wrightstown, n. j., for
Instance. there are nine motion pic
lure theaters in addition to the i'm
Inense Y M. G.. A. auditorium, where
Aictures are shown frequently. The
Usual population at Camp Dix Is 49,
hon men. AT other cantonm ents on
his side Of the water there are more
heaters than are to be found at Camp
blk; at few Of them Is the total lower
But, complex as is the problem of
distribution in the United States, the
ANTIQUITIES are elementary by COM
harrison with those to be overcome in
Trance. George Durham Foster
Of the Community Motion
Picture bureau, has gone to France
for the Y. M. G. A, taking with him
one Of the best known exchange men
i'm New York and another assistant
who routed a circus in France and
knows every nook and corner Of that
country.
The problem overseas will be solved.
The prediction is justified by past per-
formances Of the Y. NJ. c.. A, of re-
suits piled up since the government
a $50 cations comprehensive and ex-
nerienced organization. At times the
has creaked. largely De-
cause of the lact that it lacked the oil
that only patriots in the flesh could
supply. Even now there Is n con-
stant demand for men in all branches
of the Y. NJ. G.. A. service, and this
will continue to last as long
as the war lasts, but the new recruits
are working into the great system of
which they are a part and the results
are being achieved.
Thus it will be in Franco. with N<r.
Foster at the head of the film distri-
Button to the huts in the trenches and
the concentration camps. The inten-
ton is to establish central headquar-
Iters in Paris and perhaps four or five
branches in various parts Of the west
en- front. Not only are the American
loops to have their movies, but their
French, British, italian and Belgian
Niles will. as well.
To supply the demand for recrea-
ton and relaxation from the grim
business of defeating the foe, hun
dreds of thousands Of feet of I'm Will
be required. The original order, ship
usent of which began late in Decen1 Der
was 100000 feet. II is expected that
before summer this total will have
been doubled.
Thus the fighting mantle Am eri -
can fighting man has his movie show
from the time he enters a training
camp until he goes over the top. In
the United States the Y NJ. C. A. fol-
lows in it's system Of distribution the
lines as laid down by the six military
departments Of the government. Con
gestion in one or two sections has
made necessary the addition of
branches in few Of the departments.
The last time someone had time 20
foot up the totals the Y. M c. A. was
circulating more than 1000, 600 feet OF