The Capture of New York

“The film shows a very interesting series of views of the recent army maneuvers when the Red and Blue armies of 20,000 militiamen fought in an encounter than ended in the attempted capture of New York City. The picture is a very clear one and shows the various phases of the campaign, from the transport ship down to the actual encounter and the retreat of the defeated army. The Red army is shown encamped, also the soldiers at play, at meals and taking the calvary horses for a swim, laying telephone and telegraph wires, of field wireless outfit, the aero squadron, with actual flights, including one in which the two biplanes are seen racing, and the engagement, with a view of the scene of battle after the encounter. It makes an exceptionally entertaining feature.”

“The Thanhouser Company has been extremely busy in Connecticut during the recent maneuvers of the armies of the Red and Blue. The various military movements have been recorded in motion pictures under expert military guidance and will serve an educational purpose, particularly through the profession of arms in the teaching of military tactics. The sham war was instituted primarily as a practical lesson for army officers in the handling of men and impedimenta. The old guard of American generals is rapidly passing, and there are few of those today in command who have seen actual service in war. It becomes necessary in times of peace to instruct the younger officers in the practical moving of large forces in order that the theory of war may not predominate over the practical side.

“Methods of attack and defense were gone through under conditions that have been modernized by new inventions. For instance, the aeroplane played a prominent part in the war of the Reds and the Blues; also the wireless, the telephone, the automobile and new departures in ordnance equipment. The artillery maneuvers are particularly of interest in showing numerous changes from the older methods. The matter of throwing up entrenchments has been carefully illustrated, together with strategic movements, and charted. The engineering departments were put to many tests in the appliance of modern equipment. Taken together, the battle of the Reds and Blues is a great lesson, not only to the soldier and to the ordinary citizens of the Republic, and the way that war is waged.

“Being sponsored by the United States Government, maneuvers were on an extensive scale and motion pictures of the event were decidedly a part of the government’s program. One of the objects is to use them at West Point in the teaching of cadets until other and better war methods have been devised. The Thanhouser ‘war correspondents’ with cameras followed the victorious Reds and filmed the fight and the preparations for it. They got some special views that will be an education in 20th century fighting methods. The great popular modern ‘charger’ is the automobile, and its use has been abundantly shown in this Thanhouser picture.”

“See 20th century fighting men in action—how battles are now won by wireless scouting by the amazing aerial squadrons. 20,000 in camp and in battle.”