A Smoke Attack (1914-1918)

Titles read: ’A Smoke Attack. Smoke bombs (not asphyxiating) fired by the British to cover up infantry advancing’. Location of events unknown - probably Western Front - France or Belgium? British soldiers crouched in FG; smoke up ahead of them (BG) coming from smoke bombs on the ground. They jump up; run toward smoke; and into the cloud; disappearing. Next; more smoke covers screen; with what looks like white rain or fireworks coming through the cloud. Soldiers run through trench (side view); scramble up over the top. Great shot of just dark silhouettes of soldiers disappearing into smoke! Danger; excitement; risk; daredevils; and spooky looking - just as one would imagine the Western front; No Man’s Land etc. (And it may well be imaginary in this case - there’s a good chance this action footage is not real.) Smoke continues to blow around; sometimes ground visible; sometimes not; then another rain of smoke. Side shot of soldiers running through smoke. Again entire screen is filled w/ smoke. LS