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Topical Budget 228-1: Torpedoing a Liner (1916)
 

Synopsis

Warning: screenonline full synopses contain 'spoilers' which give away key plot points. Don't read on if you don't want to know the ending!

"TORPEDOING A LINER A faint idea of the 'pirate huns' latest crime against civilisation, is portrayed in the torpedoing of a ship where the terrific explosion destroys everything". Biplane carrying a torpedo flies over warship. There is a large explosion. Wreckage floating in the water.

Note: This film does not show genuine military action. The ambiguous titles presumably mean that this is a faked incident meant to give the audience an idea of a recent German bombing [the P. & O. liner 'Geelong' and the passenger steamer 'Glengyle' were sunk by German submarines on the 2nd]. The implication seems to be that the plane has dropped a torpedo but this is not visible on the film and there is a jump cut between the plane passing and the explosion. There is a group of observers in a small boat nearby. The warship apparently exploding is American.