A U.S. arms manufacturing in World War 1. Hundreds of workers seen at shift change, waiting for their respective trolley cars passing on tracks between arms manufacturing plant's buildings. Women at work on metal working machines in an arms factory. Racks of Browning Automatic Rifles (Rifle, Caliber .30, Automatic, Browning, M1918) are being moved about. Assemblers are seen hand fitting parts for the Browning M1917 water cooled machine gun. One man makes final assembly adjustments to one of the machine guns set up on tripod in the factory. He enjoys firing the Browning M1917 machine gun. (Note:The M1917 and M1918 BAR were manufactured by numerous American arms makers. Colt, Remington, Marlin, Royal typewriter, Winchester. Most of the M1917 machine guns were manufactured by New England Westinghouse.)
The United States of America in 1917. A huge crowd on the streets of a city in the United States. A motorcade proceeds on a street, past official looking buildings. People on both sides of the street wave U.S. flags and cheer. French General Joseph Joffre, accompanied by officials, makes his way through a crowd (likely New York City on "Joffre Day," May 11, 1917). A large number of persons surrounding them, wave flags. Scene changes to the dome of the United States Capitol building in Washington DC. People outside the building. A Ford motor car arrives. Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company, with officials. Henry Ford and Speaker of the House, Congressman James Beauchamp Clark ("Champ") seen seated and talking on a balcony of the United States Capitol building. Officials and members of the Ford party come down the steps of the Capitol and pose for pictures. Among them is Thomas Edison who shakes hands with Congressman Clark. The dignitaries leave in an automobile. Next scene shows suffrage and pacifist leader Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin, (the first woman congressional representative in the United States) holding flowers, with other suffragette women in a carriage. Policemen maintain order among a crowd of demonstrators outside the Capitol. Two mounted policemen begin to urge demonstrators away from the building.
Evolution of United States Air Force uniforms in the United States. A pilot in the cockpit of a French Nieuport fighter aircraft. A pilot in a 1917 uniform gets out of the cockpit of the aircraft and walks away. A captain in a1917 pilot's uniform gets into the cockpit of a Nieuport aircraft.
1917 Enfield Rifles (U. S. Rifle, Model of 1917) being manufactured in the United States at one of 3 arms plants (Winchester, Remington, or Eddystone) during World War 1 (between the Spring of 1917 and the Spring of 1919). Film shows assemblers hand fitting parts, a worker adjusting the front sight for proper "zero" in a machine vise, and "Proof" firing before final inspection and acceptance. (Note: At the peak of production, the 3 arms plants were turning out 10,000 rifles per day.)
Jeannette Rankin, Republican member of Congress from Montana, and first woman representative elected in the United States, is seen standing with women's suffrage movement activists in Chicago, Illinois, just before America's entry into World War 1. The leading slate mentions her forthcoming participation in a special session of Congress (referring to the Joint Session of Congress on April 2, when President Wilson will ask for a declaration of war against Germany). Rankin holds a bouquet of flowers and stands with another woman wearing a large corsage of flowers. A dozen women suffragists stand behind them. The building behind seems to be a hotel, containing several mirrored doors. Several men passersby walk past the camera while it photographing the group. Jeannette Rankin moves forward and another woman helps her to step into a vehicle (unseen).
President Wilson leaves the White House and proceeds up Pennsylvania Avenue to arrive at the Capitol in Washington D. C., United States. President wilson addresses the Congress to declare war against Germany.