Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-01
GRIFFITH RECALLS
THE KAISER'S "DUDS"
They're Defective Shells, as
Movie Director Was De-
lighted to Learn

David w. Griffith, who produced
Hearts of he World" the stirring
drama of the war now on view at the
Garrick Theatre, is now in Los Angeles,
where he went following his return from
the war zone last year. When he was
In the East he was too busy with all
sorts of important business to give many
interviews, but since he has returned to
California he has had a bit of leisure
occasionally and recently at the Hotel
Alexandria, seated with some friends In
the dining room, he related a dramatic
happening. which, fortunately, did not
result fatally for him.
Civilians had not been permitted to
go to the front. but gentleman high in
the service of the British Government
was influential enough to obtain for me
permit to penetrate to the war zone"
said Griffith. Upon my arrival at the
war front young officer was detailed
to accompany me to the trenches. He
was terribly enthusiastic-I thought
little too terribly. Anyway, he was proud
and he was particularly proud of his
wearing them the first day and he
wanted to keep them immaculate or
nearly So
We'll, he showed me around behind
the trenches-in the reserve trenches.
1t wasn't at all what | desired, for
was keen to get to the very front.
Finally l obtained reluctant assent
from the English officer to accompany
me to the front lines. They were really
n N pa n
tured. We walked through what seemed
| to be miles of approach 1t got muddier
and muddier every minute. The soldiers
| that we passed were standing up to their
knees in a slough of mud-sometimes
| almost up to their waists That was
too much for the English officer-my
| friend-who momentarily became more
concerned about those precious new
boots. When he couldn't stand it any
| longer be declared, I'm going to walk
| along here on top and with that he
| mounted to the surface and began a
stroll in full view of the nearby German
sharpshooters.
"Of course. / went with him, And it
wasn't long before there came the sound
that warned US that we had been OBJ
| served--the snarling whine of a German
she'll Look out" shouted my friend,
the lieutenant i looked but 1t wouldn't
have made any difference whether had
or not II that shell had been looking for
me. But / heard a squashy sound then
| and l knew that the shell had struck
| the mud and we were, safe. But we
were showered with mud at any rate.
| 1t was only a dud," my lieutenant
! said, as he wiped the mud from his
clothes and his boots. What's "dud' :?
inquired And then he told me that
1t was a shell that did not explode and
thus failed to do it's entire duty. l can
tell you that l was very thankful for
the nonexplosion. for had there been an
explosion 1t would have ended our
careers. The 'dud' had hit only ten feet
from where we stood.
I'VE weren't by any means free from
danger with this one shot. Again there
was a terrible whining and when that
shell struck 1t exploded with roar that
can still hear. We were covered with
mud but we were not injured.
"'Come on shouted my lieutenant as
he leaped into the mud of the trenches
I had leaped almost on the instant and
| am sure | heat any records for broad
| jumping / didn't walt TO see where the
lieutenant was, but | ran and l never
stopped until found a sap where
could get a little protection from the
bombardmeat. Afterward 1 was told
that II was the liveliest bombardment
on that sector that had been experienced
m long time. am pleased 70 say that
Ia the Kaiser was after me that day h
Wastsd several million dollars upon me-