Scene from 1927 feature film about World War 1. British tank crosses a battlefield under fire. It is a Mk V tank with dummy guns fitted to simulate a fighting tank. British troops sheltering in a shell-hole recognize it as friendly and follow it towards enemy lines, where it rides over the parapet of a German trench and crushes a machine-gun position. (The tank is an anachronism; the Mark V did not enter service until 1918.)
Reenactment of scenes from 1916 in World War 1, filmed in 1927 in Southwest England. Two British Mk V Tanks advance through shellfire. One has its gun mountings plated over and has dummy guns; the other has its gun mounts intact, though the guns might be dummies, and carries anti-grenade mesh on its roof. (These are by historical errors by the film makers, since this type of anti-grenade protection was not carried on Mark V [Mark 5] tanks, and the Mark V did not enter service until 1918.) The tank advances towards enemy trenches, followed by British soldiers who pursue German soldiers fleeing along the network of trenches. The tank, filmed from below, in the trench, as it moves over the trench. Note: (The film "The Somme" can be seen in full on the British Film Institute website.)
Brief scenes from the U.S. Army Air Service Pan American good will flight that covered 22,000 miles on a goodwill mission to 21 Central and South American nations, during 1926-1927. A view of the hangar area and flight line of Kelly Air Field in Texas, as one of the five Loening OA-1 Amphibious aircraft, on the mission, takes off from the runway on Dec. 21, 1926. Five of the aircraft in formation over a large city. U.S.President Calvin Coolidge presents the aircrews with citations for the Distinguished Flying Cross, at Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., on May 2, 1927.
Glimpses of airplanes and crews that made the Pan American Goodwill flight that covered 22,000 miles to 21 Central and South American nations, in 1926. Aerial view of hangars and runway at kelly Air Base, Texas, as one of the five Loening OA-1 Amphibious aircraft takes off from the runway on Dec. 21, 1926.The five aircraft seen in flight over a city, are: The New York, with crew: Maj. Herbert Dargue and Lt. Ennis Whitehead; The San Antonio with crew: Capt. Arthur McDaniel and Lt. Charles Robinson; The San Francisco with crew: Capt. Ira Eaker and Lt. Muir Fairchild; The Detroit, with crew: Capt. Clinton Woolsey and Lt. John Benton; and The St. Louis, with crew: Lt. Bernard Thompson and Lt. Leonard Weddington. President Coolidge presenting the pilots with with citations for the Distinguished Flying Cross at Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., on May 2, 1927, at the opening of the Pan American Air Commission Conference.
Conditions in China in 1927-28. A large crowd of people is assembled outdoors, in Shanghai, China. Several display Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) flags. Next, the people are seen scrambling for pamphlets that are being thrown into their midst. Camera pans across the crowd, revealing that they are assembled near a waterfront pier on the Huangpu River, where a number of ships are docked. Closeup of the pier shows men carrying cargo and packages through the crowd. Scene shifts to two men apparently distributing literature from a truck, and a crowd (mob) of people pushing into an official-looking building. Next, a contingent of armed Chinese sailors marches through the throng. They pass by the people crammed into the doorway of the official-looking building, paying no attention to them. More armed Chinese military march through the area. Views of people jammed into the streets. A line of armed British soldiers is seen trying to control a crowd (probably near the International Settlement). They push the demonstrators back. Scene shifts to a group of Chinese men seated on the ground, eating bread. someone gives one of them a small tin box that he attempts to pry open.
A ship underway near a U.S. port. President Woodrow Wilson seen signing the declaration of war against Germany in World War 1. A close up of the start of the draft process, as two blind-folded civilian men draw the first draft numbers for American men to enter service in World War 1. U.S. Army General John J. Pershing stands in a line with other Army officers circa 1917. A large group of people together inside a large cross-shaped stage (possibly American red cross drive of some kind during World War I). Scene on July 4, 1927 in Indianapolis, Indiana, as General Pershing participates in cornerstone laying ceremonies for the Indiana World War Memorial at American Legion Headquarters. General Pershing is with Governor Ed Jackson, Marcus Sonntag, and Adjt General William H. Kershner. General Pershing places wreath on a service flag during the ceremony. Other Indianapolis buildings and view of people on streets in the background.