UNITED NEWS [Series Title]

Edition of US-produced wartime newsreel featuring the training of American paratroopers; Charles de Gaulle decorating General Mark Clark; the employment of a floating salvage crane off the American Atlantic coast; the second birthday of the WAVES, the US Navy female auxiliary; a visit of US admirals to Saipan; a volcanic eruption in Mexico.

Part 1: United News main titles. 'U.S. prepares more paratroops for battle'; paratroop trainees make parachute descents from a tower. A paratrooper makes a stand-up landing (he is not wearing any equipment). A body of paratroops marching. Marching to their aircraft. On board; the paratroops are checked off. Mass drop of paratroops and troops exiting an aircraft. Aerial footage of paratroops jumping. Paratroops landing.

Part 2: 'General de Gaulle decorates Fifth Army commander'; a body of troops on parade on a gently sloping hillside somewhere in Italy. Parade of Scout Cars with 20mm guns. De Gaulle arrives by staff car. Lieutenant-General Mark Clark arrives by jeep. Clark and de Gaulle exchange greetings. De Gaulle decorates Clark with the Legion of Honour and kisses him on both cheeks in the Gallic fashion. Clark with the large decoration on his uniform. Clark and de Gaulle together. De Gaulle departs by staff car.

Part 3: 'Huge naval salvage crane in action'; at sea off the US Atlantic coast a large floating naval crane in use. A diver clings precariously to a piece of steel protruding above the surface and attempts to fix the crane's large hook to it. The crane starts to lift.

Part 4: 'Waves celebrate second birthday'; women in US Navy uniform march past. Women seated. In Cedar Falls, Iowa, women board a lorry. They wave as their lorry drives along a road. On a farm the women dismount. The women at work in a corn field de-tassling corn plants. A woman drives a moving platform on which the women work. After work the women tuck into corn cobs. At Hunter College in New York a mass parade of WAVES. New York City's mayor, Mayor La Guardia, takes his hat off as two naval officers salute.

Part 5: 'U.S. admirals visit Saipan'; on an airfield on Saipan a United States Army Air Forces B-24 Liberator transport taxis to a halt. Officers in conversation on the airstrip, including Admirals Ernest King and Chester Nimitz. The admirals see destroyed Japanese equipment. They drive off in a jeep with Major-General Holland Smith.

Part 6: 'New volcano erupts in Mexico'; view of the volcano Paricutin with plume of ash or smoke. Map showing Mexico, Mexico City and the location of Paricutin. Interior of a basilica. Attempting to remove the organ to safety. Mexican civilian refugees. Damaged buildings. Mexicans with mules. Views of hot rock tumbling downhill. Walls collapsing. Wide view of the volcano, now erupting with plumes of lava. End title.

35mm