Opens with slate that says 'Crossing the Line'. Depicts King Neptune shellback initiation ceremony aboard USS Idaho in the Atlantic Ocean en route to Rio de Janeiro. Slate indicates that President Elect of Brazil de Pessoa was on board. Sailors lie down on the ship deck. The captain welcomes King Neptune's messengers aboard the ship. They inform the captain that King Neptune will visit his ship. King Neptune and Queen Amphitrite are welcomed aboard the ship by the captain. The ship's officers are introduced to the Royal visitors. Queen Amphitrite meets old friends. The Court of King Neptune with sailors dressed in various costumes. The Royal barber shaves and cleans each sailor. The sailors are immersed in Neptune's salty water. View of a certificate awarded to a sailor following his successful initiation.
Baroness de la Rouche,world's first woman flier, climbing down from an airplane. Attendants meet her and place a coat around her shoulders.
German U-boat U-111, that was surrendered, after the armistice, and interned at Harwich, England, is seen docked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, in New York City. It was brought from Harwich by an American crew to help stimulate subscriptions in East Coast cities, during the Victory Bond drive . Sailors demonstrate movement of the deck gun on the U-boat. They also raise the periscope, in a demonstration, while the boat is still docked. Principal naval officers, currently in command, Lieutenant Commanders Garnet Halings and G.W. Russell , pose on the deck with members of the crew including some perched on the conning tower of the submarine. View of German and United States flags on the U-111.
Several officials of the new German government after World War I. Matthias Erzberger, Minister of Finance, stands outside a building. Dr. Edward David, German Minister of State, and one of Germany's delegates to the Peace Conference. He wears a straw hat and carries a cane. He climbs int the back seat of an open car and poses for the camera. Buildings in the background. Other man watch him. Gustav Noske, German Minister of War, stands outside a building. He carries a furled umbrella and removes dark-rimmed glasses to pose.
Celebration of the Weimar Republic in Germany, following World War I. A Roman Catholic procession led by clergy, and involving Karl Josef Schulte, Archbishop of Paderborn, moves through the streets of Cologne, Germany, to the steps at the front entrance of Cologne Cathedral. The procession also includes many persons including students in various uniforms, carrying banners. One banner refers to the years 1853 to 1903. Large numbers of persons fill the streets. Policemen on horseback are seen. (Note: It is not clear whether Felix von Hartman or Karl Joseph Schulte is the Bishop in this film. The weather appears to be pleasant, which suggests it might be Hartmann, who fell ill in September and died in November. He was succeeded by Karl Joseph Schulte, Bishop of Paderborn, who formally became Archbishop of Cologne in March, 1920. Historical records describing this film mention "Archbishop Shulpe" with no further information or details. We believe that to be a misspelling of "Schulte".)
Soon after World War 1, a tugboat leads two ships through narrow open water channel in frozen Russian bay. Buildings and trees in the far background. View of area covered with snow. Children wearing warm clothes stand in front of ship on which is written: 'Margus Newark USA'. An American flag flutters on the flag pole of the ship. The children pose for photograph. A cinematographer hand cranks his movie camera on a city street. Other men stand with him. Buildings along the sides of snow covered street.