New-York tribune., 1918-03-17
Mouies Do Their Share
in Stirring War Spirit
Reach Every Level of Society,"
Number of Reels Made Dropped
$50 in 1917-Present Trend Toword
Lancer Plays Becomes Marked

past on the screen. Apn,,usa ppnns
across the audience. The pictur.,s
mission has been accomplished
glimpse of the real thing has c.,,;.s
the message further in the co,rs.
a few days than the pen of the mos.
forceful writer could hope to do -
many months.
Aided Army and
Navy Recruiting
So it is with campaigns for yo,a,
teers for service in the army and navy
Nothing could be more allurins to !.
wholesome-hearted youth than mn.
tion picture of life in cantonment .,
on battleship. We forget the wranp.
ling at Washington when we see .onr
boys" on the screen going through
their PAGES.
The fact that the motion picture
machine has place on the battle line
is an old story now, but the value of
the product of the machine to the war
has not been forgotten by our Allies.
They have been applying a kind of
peaceful penetration to the American
people by means of the pictures Of life
on the battlefront We have seen
tanks in faction and men dragging
themselves through mud and climbing
across shell pits. The herculean labors
of the Italian Alpini in hauling guns
up to the SUBMITS of the snow-clad
peaks of Northeastern Italy by man
power, the various movements in con-
nection with the battle of Gorilla and
the efficient operation Of water and cir
craft by the Italians were presented
to our eyes at a psychological moment.
One would be quite ready to assert
that the exhibition in America OF
Italv's activity and ability in such close
proximity to the visit OF the Italian
War Commission was rot wholly
curious coincidence. All marveled at
the fine craftsmanship of the militant
Italians. The impression was so strong
that more recent events cannot blot out
the picture 1t helps the maintenance
of faith in the Italian soldier.
All of these uses of the motion
picture as an agent OF propaganda have
shared in the work Of preparation.
Not only in the field of stimulation,
but also in that of instruction. has she
film taken it's place. The new develop
ments in the technique Of warfare and
relief may be illustrated in the train
ing of the thousands of officers and
hundreds Of thousands of men.
For instance, this is war in which
the danger of death from wounds has
been greatly reduced. 1t was said re-
Gently that the chances of wounded
soldier living are nine in ten if he is
| alive SIX hours after receiving the
wound, and greater by the time he
reaches the base hospital One of the
! reasons this is SO is the irrigation Of
wounds with an antiseptc solution,
called after DR.. Carrel, Of the Rookie
feller Institute, who developed it. 1t is
possible to give to physicians in this
country through motion pictures gen.
eral knowledge of the methods Of
accomplishing this irrigation. The
wounds heal quickly instead of becom-
ing gangrenous.
Another way in which information
can be passed on through the motion
picture has been worked out by Frank
q. Gllbreth, who has made many mo-
ton studies IN order that men may be
trained in methods of doing things
more efficiently. This is valuable in
preparing men who have suffered the
loss of limbs to take up new occupa'
tons
Not only in the field OF specialized
but in that of general instruction the
moving picture has been introduced.
| The Committee on Public Information
IS distributing broadcast films showing
| how our various militant forces are be-
ing trained for action, labor's share,
the building of ships, the making ot
guns and uniforms, the activities 0,
women, mannuvres of airplanes ana
balloons, and the methods Of German
,propagandiSts and spies.
Used to Preserve
Civic Morale
In more subtle ways is the motion
picture taking its place in the war
! game. 1t is serving as a means o.
preserving civic and military rioIaie.
war, If one may judge of one OF ~
effects upon the civil population o. o.
Great Britain, stimulates interest ~ ~
and desire for motion pictures. - ~
is an inexpensive form of enterlssn'
ment and meets the demand for relaas. ns,
ton. The workman, pressed day al's'
day by the task of producing mum
tons, is glad of this means of torgss
ting the tediousness of the days oeeu.
patton. 1t also serves to modify Wv
tension of those who have relatives -
the front.
The motion picture is likely to usuts,
! through the period of the war, at less'
IN larger measure than ever beiols'
the place of the Legitimate dran,nIII nnI
Only in cities of considerable size W. W.,
good spoken plays be presented. ,.ass aa
pressure upon the transportation ''ul. i:f.
makes it not only costly but Vef! an rs
hcult for theatrical companies to now
their impedimenta from place TO pissft
! This obstacle does not seriousy -. o.
feet the motion picture exhibition. sa
cause of its small compass. The cahnr nra
| drama" can be transported ~ ony
box and be carried by automobi's y
aeroplane if necessary. ..my
In the training camps OF the sI s.,Is.
and navy and on board the great pa.ast p.snt
ships, the photoplav is an impo',snd nd