General John J. Pershing walks in front of a formation of American troops, followed by officers of his staff. Next,Pershing and his staff walk to several soldiers standing in a line. He decorates a field grade officer, and shakes hands and converses with him. He then decorates a Colonel, and another field grade officer. A French officer is then decorated. Finally, he decorates several enlisted soldiers. (World War I; World War 1; WWI; WW1)
World War 1 scene of a French soldier at a concrete and brick protected location, fastens pouches of ammunition to the backs of two dogs. He then leads them, followed by another French soldier. French troops are next seen climbing into a fortified position on a steep hillside or mountain area, where they set up a Vickers machine gun. They examine its field of fire, in preparation for its use.
Italian bombers in flight during World War I. Italian bomber aircraft in flight. A bomb under the wing of an aircraft to be dropped on Austrian trenches. The planes engage in aerial warfare. A blimp or large observation balloon in flames as it descends. Soldiers in a field watch the skies upward. Another blimp or air balloon burns as it descends and a soldier parachuting to the ground.
British troops conduct an anti-gas drills on the Western Front in World War 1. The scene is a deep trench complex with woven twig lining. Snow covers the ground around the trenches. A British sentry pedals a gong while putting on a gas mask and lowers the door of a gas proof dug out. Soldiers clear out of unprotected trench area and are later seen cleaning rifles, when a gas alarm sounds and they don gas masks and take up firing positions in trench. A medic helps a gassed soldier and puts on his mask. (World War I; World War 1; WWI; WW1)
Mill workers forging an ingot under a power hammer. View from top of the forging hammer. Explosions of shells fired from heavy guns. Naval guns seen on a battleship. French tanks advancing across the battlefield. Large formation of warplanes in flight. Naval heavy guns firing. A torpedo being launched. Sky blackened by smoke cloud from a steel mill. (World War I; World War 1; WWI; WW1)
Following bold attacks by German forces against English Channel ports in France, French General Ferdinand Foch orders a counter attack by all Allied armies. The film then depicts a montage of war scenes, growing shorter and in quicker succession as the film proceeds. Allied soldiers advancing across open battlefields on a broad front during counter offensive following German attacks against English Channel ports in France, during World War 1. Soldiers drop and take cover as shells explode in open field areas. Dead horses next to a destroyed wagon. Soldier running across open fields. German soldiers firing Maschinengewehr (Schwarzlose) M. 7 (Schwarzlose MG) machine gun. Allied gunners firing French 75 field artillery pieces. Allied soldiers carrying wounded on stretcher. Allied soldiers lifting and carrying shells from stacks of shells along their lines. A shell explosion close to the camera. German soldiers taking cover at upper edge of a bomb crater. One is struck and rolls backward. Allied soldiers wearing ponchos and firing machine gun. Soldiers with an artillery shell. German soldier falling back down embankment. Dead German soldier lying beside a knocked-out German machine gun. Ground level shot from trench or ditch of Allied soldiers emerging from trenches "over the top" and running on battlefield. Explosions on battlefield. Allied soldiers emerge from underground bunker with wood framed door. French soldiers marching on battlefield beside destroyed trees. French soldiers going over the top from trenches to advance in battle. Destroyed trees all around. Capture German soldiers marching along a trench. French soldiers carrying wounded soldier on litter. Trench with numerous bodies of dead soldiers. French soldiers hastily wheeling a wounded soldier on a cart. Numerous scenes of wounded French soldiers, some walking and bandaged. Flamethrowers being used on battlefield areas. Lines of multiple flamethrowers in use. French soldiers marching in a town. Some are supporting other soldiers and some hold rags to faces (possible gas attack victims). Schneider CA1 French tank moving in underbrush. French soldiers load and fire artillery. Heavy siege guns and howitzers being fired including an Italian siege howitzer Mortaio da 210/8. Dead German soldier on ground. French soldiers digging trench beside bodies of fallen soldiers. Shell being loaded in artillery gun. Explosions in valley as seen from high ridge overlooking battlefield. Heavily bandaged wounded soldier being carried by French soldiers and medics. Group of German prisoners; some bandaged. French carrying more wounded on stretchers. A French railway gun (Canon de 340 mm) on railway mounting is fired. Allied cavalry soldiers on horseback galloping across streams, some towing empty caissons that bounce going over embankments at high speed. Allied soldiers in trench. Large group of Allied soldiers taking cover in large bomb crater and then charging up and over the top through smoke screen.