American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1928)

Ten AMERICAN CI N E M A T 0 G R A PH E R January, 1927 News Man Saves Old Glory A. S. C. Man Shooting the Chinese War Finds the Flag Desecrated When Shek's Men Sack Consulate at Nanking [Mr. A. E. Lilius, Paramount News cameraman, and latest applicant for membership in the A. S. C, contributes the following interesting account of his recent adventures in China where he was on the firing line for his particular service. Mr. Lilius has just returned from China and will make his home in Hollywood.— Editor's Note.] General Chiang Kai Shek had captured Nanking on March 23rd. A few Americans, British and Japanese were murdered and the world expected that justice would be meted out — news about intervention — a punitive expedition which would teach the Chinese how to behave — but nothing came By A. E. Lilius Mr. A. E. Lili out of the hoped for military expedition of the British and Americans, and, finally, the gasping world was astonished by the news that the good old U. S. A. was not going to do a thing or even take part in any unfriendly notes demanding satisfaction for the American lives that were lost in Nanking. The news was "first page news" and had to be covered. A cable from Paramount "News," for whom I covered the Chinese struggle, advised me about the desirabilitv of going to Nanking to "shoot" Chiang Kai Shek and the American Consulate, which was supposed to have been looted; the Socony Hill where everything had been destroyed; and to record on the film the situation in general. Now, I am an old war horse and know that personal safety is, under peculiar circumstances, purely a diplomatic accomplishment, so I secured all kinds of papers from the foreign office of the Nationalist Government in Shanghai, and also wired to Nanking personally to the General, Shek, asking for permission "to record in pictures the marvellous progress of the Nationalist movement under his captaincy." I received a favorable reply and was ready to go. But I could . not go without an interpreter. The times were rather too dangerous and one could never know what a situation one might fall into. I wanted a more or less educated man to go with me and I had seven candidates at various prices, but as soon as they found out that I wanted to go to Nanking each one found reasons to retire gracefully. One bird told me that he refused to go with me because I used to swear and was not Christian enough. That happened about two minutes before the train was to go and I had disclosed to him our destination. What I said to him then must have confirmed his former judgment. I had to go back to the hotel and there I asked the room clerk to get me a "boy," a servant who understood English. The very next day he got me a sullen-faced chap who spoke a delightful pidgeon-English and I found later that he was a marvellous cook and did not care whether he was with the Nationalists or the Northerners and was ready to go anywhere I went, so, throughout the whole campaign he accompanied me both as servant and interpreter. But unfortunately the last train that went for weeks to Nanking was just the train I missed the previous day and there was only one thing to do — to go by steamer up the Yangtse Kiang River. I went to the American authorities to get a translation of my passport, but when they found out where I was going they refused the translation and forbade me to go. They even pointed out that should I go and anything happened to me they were not responsible and no assistance could or should be expected. I went anyway. It took us five days to reach Nanking, and we were escorted part of the way by an English gunboat, which obligingly answered every shot fired at us from both banks of the Yangtse. Once our steamer collided with a junk, just as I was ready to shoot some river scenery and, of course, I got the whole adventure from the very beginning to the end. I had the good fortune to stand ready on the bridge when I saw what was coming and I really believe this to be the first actual collision-picture — not ordered — shot from one of the colliding vessels. Finally we arrived at Nanking. There was no communication with the shore. On the north bank of the river were the Northern troops, on the other were Chiang Kai Shek's army, both armies bombarding each other. Here were also a few Americans, British and Japanese destroyers stationed out of reach of the Chinese artillery and, under their protective guns, floated the small Standard Oil Co.'s motor-tank MEI-LU, whereto the American Consul after the massacre had fled. We got aboard the Mei-Lu. Now, when a countryman meets another anywhere else in the world there is always a handclasp and a friendly greeting. We met the consul who eyed us suspiciously and we met the Standard Oil officials who did not eye us at all. The consul demanded my credentials and I showed him the passport and my cables and all the papers I had. I asked his permission to shoot his picture, etc., which was firmly refused. Finally I persuaded him to pose, but the Standard Oil officials refused stubbornly and, when politely requested to give me their initials for my reports, they frankly bade me to go to h — 1. I asked the consul's permission to let my "boy" go elsewhere with his two Chinese secretaries who lived in Nanking, but he refused. Finally I got hold of a sampan, navigated by two old women, and the "boy" went away with word to the General that I had arrived and wanted protection if I was to go ashore. Unfortunately I had to stay overnight aboard the Mei-Lu and early the following morning the "boy" returned with rtie General's personal secretary who welcomed me and told me that a body-guard awaited us on the south bank. When I bade my host good-bye I was reminded that I should pay for the two meals I had, but that there was no charge for the deckspace I had occupied during the night. Well, I paid. Nobody shot at us, I believe, while we rowed ashore, at least there was no hits and we landed. The general had sent an automobile and four soldiers armed to the teeth for our protection. Then we were whisked away to a native hotel and the secretary told us exactly what pictures we could take and what should not be taken. But to shoot pictures of what the General wanted to have shot was not my idea of good news work, so I did my best to evade my bodyguard and I succeeded a few times, but finally I had to tell the secretary that what I came for was the picture of the American Consulate and, in pictures, show the world whether there (Continued on Page 27)