Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-12
WAR ON THE CIGARETTE
STRENUOUS CONTEST BETWEEN
MANCHURIA MANUFACTURERS.

Consul General Summons of Niuchwang
describes vigorous contest that Is being
carried on between rival manufacturers OF
cigarettes. The ingenuity of the Japanese
manufacturers in advertising their product
will be found interesting. His report to the
Department of Commerce and Labor fol-
lows
Cigarettes are being advertised with col
Ored quarter-sheet posters and handbiIls
in Niuchwang. The coloring of the adver-
Using matter is mostly blood red, and the
cigarette campaign is growing more active
The japanese tobacco monopoly, on the one
hand. is pushing three leading brands in
Manchuria, while the British American
Tobacco Company, on the other. has It's
agents knocking at the gates leading to
the late war zone and seeking to carry the
campaign into the interior on equal terms.
Thus far the British-American company
has not been allowed to send foreigners
beyond Niuchwang, but through native sub
agents the virtues of the Virginia leaf
already being announced on the face of old
Chinese walls that have never before been
utilized for advertising purposes. The
Japanese have the advantage of being able
to push their goods under the direct super
vision of their own epuntrymen. japanese
merchants, also, who sell TO the army, have
for several months been allowed to go into
the interior to certain points, under Jap
anese military authority and regulation.
Lurid Advertisements.
IN Manchuria the natives, in some in
stances including the women, smoke Gig
arettes. The field is considered a rich one
in this trade, and is consequently sought
after with much eagerness. The lurid ad-
vertising matter used by both parties seek
ing the business of the enormous cigar
ette-smokng community is decorated with
Chinese characters describing the wonder
f,YI oFt he tnIRa IfT+rTr
of the exact size and the distinguishing
markings of the packages used are printed
on the placards. The British-American
company makes a feature of the quality of
the Virginia leaf that is used. The leaf Is
imported from America and manufactured
into cigarettes at Shanghai. The japanese
tobacco monopoly puts It's goods on this
market under Chinese labels, but gives the
names of it's chief brands in English on the
package. This method is the one adopted
by its active rival.
Japanese Ingenuity.
"A few days ago the British-American
managers at Niuchwang, which is head
quarters for Manchuria, billed the native
city as prominently a great circus is an
! nounced on American billboards. Follow
ing this the japanese tobacco monopoly
managers began giving away sample cigar
cites. attached to a neat card having Chi
nese and Japanese flags printed on top.
with real matches for hagstaffs. and with
miniature pictures of the boxes of their
leading brands in pyramid form under the
flags. Holes punched in the cards held the
match fiagstaffs. and Sits, also cut in the
card, admitted and held the sample cigar
cite.
AT the local headquarters of the monop-
oily the rush Of Chinese coolies for these
samples was so great as to block traffic
along the bund. The coolies fought with
each other to get possession OF the gift and
the cards. On their advertising matter the
Japanese announce that their cigarette is
of government manufacture, and as the
cards bear both the great dragon of China
and the sun flag of Japan the native pur-
chaser may decide for himself which gov
other announcements the Japanese agents
declare that their cigarette administers
life; supports the spirits; this cigarette, of
government manufacture, is sweet and Of
good quality, famous, once tried always to
be liked will cause the smoker TO feel as If
in a dream like unto the Mountain Woo
Shan. The mountain referred to is in the
district of Sze-Ch'uen, where the YangtZe
river enters that province. Its dozen peaks
were Hkened to twelve sisters, according
to the fable.
House to- House Canvass
"The Brltish-American Company has Chi
| Incorporating foreigners in charge OF its
campaign in Manchuria. and a house-to-
house canvass, coupled with the giving
away OF samples and q lavish display of
highly colored posters, characterizes their
plan of meeting the competition of the local