PAXTON & HALL ENLIST. 1917

An impressive 9 foot by 7 foot billboard which is a wonderful piece of early 20th century American military and naval history. Showing a mighty iron wall of strength in the form of America's naval fleet, the image evokes the psychology at the end of the 19th century when naval power was the key to empires. The image encompasses many details, from the mighty gun turrets to the semaphore flags, and also illustrates two submarines (one of which, at least, is curiously steam driven!) Such is the size and power of the U.S. fleet, that, in an implication of the triumph of technology over nature the black smoke from the funnels fills the sky.