World War I occupation of French towns like Chevenges by U.S. 28th Infantry, Nouart by 5th Field Artillery, and 26th Infantry and Romagne by 1st Engineers during the Meuse-Argonne offensive. View of American troops marching through a wooded area. U.S. Army General Frank Parker and his American Expeditionary Force troops talk with few elderly French refugees.
A film looking at some of the tragic human costs of World War 1 ("The Great War"). Opening slates read, (in French) "What the war has left behind it." "9 million dead." Then, a vast battlefield cemetery is shown,filled with rough wooden crosses. Camera pans over parts of it. Another, better tended cemetery is seen with finer crosses. Then another battlefield graveyard, with freshly dug graves and rough markers is shown. Slate reads, "The sea, a vast tomb." Another slate reads, millions of crippled," followed by scenes of Allied soldiers and medics, carrying their gear, across a barren battlefield. One rough cross is seen.In next scene it is clear they are scouring the battlefield for wounded and dead. Stretcher bearers make their way cautiously across ditches and makeshift bridges as they retrieve the wounded. Two assist a walking wounded soldier with bandaged eyes. Wounded seen being brought into a sandbagged brick building serving as a hospital. A field ambulance also takes patients from the hospital. A convoy of field ambulances carry wounded from the battlefields. A two-stacker British hospital ship steaming at high speed away from a French port, headed for England. Wounded British war veterans being moved in wicker wheel chairs outside a substantial building. Uniformed attendant picks one up bodily and places him into another wicker wheel chair that allows his legs to be outstretched. The attendant covers him with a blanket. Next, that veteran is seen, conversing with a men, in an outdoor area, where other wheel-chair bound veterans are enjoying small flower gardens and socializing in the sunshine. A white-coated caregiver assists a stooped veteran who takes many small steps to walk. Next is seen the famous 1919 painting by John Singer Sargeant, of blinded soldiers on the battlefield, titled, "Gassed." (It is now in the British Imperial War Museum.) Slate reads "They'll never see again," and several blind veterans are seen in dark glasses walking outdoors in the company of others. Blind veterans, injured in gas attacks, are seen making baskets by hand.
Presents Woodrow Wilson's proposal for League, his aim "To unite the countries of the World" and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Animated map shows joining of League by different Nations. (World War I; World War 1; WWI; WW1)
Aftermath of German artillery attack on a French town in World War 1. Rubble litters town street. Spectators watch as firefighters spray water on smoldering fire at site of a destroyed building. Men with bicycle talking, women looking at the ruins of houses. (World War I; World War 1; WWI; WW1)
World War I battlefield scene filmed from camera in British trench. Line of British soldiers returning across battlefield, back to British trench. Several German Army soldiers are in front of the line, being marched forward under British guard. The German soldier prisoners enter the British trench, one holding his hands up as he enters. Close-up view of German prisoners in British trench, under British guard.
Passengers on deck wearing life vests during emergency drill aboard the USS George Washington en route to the Paris peace conference at end of World War 1. Sailors seen moving to their emergency stations at lifeboats, during the drill. Nautical flags raised aloft from the ship. Ship's occupants, in life vests, fill the USS George Washington's deck during the emergency drill. President Woodrow Wilson with his personal physician, Navy Rear Admiral Admiral, Dr. Cary Travers Grayson, stands on deck with several members of the press, some of his staff, and other passengers aboard the ship. He carries on extended conversations with his companions. Many closeups of the President in conversation. Dr. Grayson conversing with Army and Navy officers in background at end of sequence. (World War I; World War 1; WWI; WW1)