New-York tribune., 1917-09-04

those OF no other nation than Japan.
The villain" of the serial is still one
Baron Huroki, who is identified as the
mythical head of the Japanese Secret
Service in the United States
The serial was planned more than a
year ago, being released by the Inter
national Film Service, which is owned
and controlled by Mr. Hearst The first
episode, however. was not released until
the middle Of January of this year.
at which time the fragrant keynote Of
opposition TO Japan and Mexico over
balanced the idea Of preparedness which
was given at the time as the reason
for its issuance
No special comment arose at the
time, the antipsthies of Mr. Hearst TO
Mexico and japan being of long stand
ing. he owns property in Mexico and
has been one of the leading exponents
Of the yellow peril" for years.
Through his string of newspapers
Nr, Hearst emphasized the supposed
unfriendliness Of Japan TO this coun-
try by running the photoplay in serial
form as novel.
Dominant Note of Serial
In letter made the dominant note
Of the newspaper serial one Of the char
acters was made 20 say: The policy OF
our present Administration has encour-
aged the de facto' government Of Mex
ico-whstever that might happen to be
10 regard US and treat US with thinly
vciled contempt Now, Japan has made
herself automatically Meyico's closest
friend; she has established colonies in
Mexico; with MeXico's consent she Sc
cretly maintains naval bases on Mex
ico'S Pacific Coast; she lends Mexico
officers 70 train her armies; she has
gone even further-she has secretly
transported great bodies Of troops to
Mexico and maintained them there in
immediate preparedness for war, 10 be
allies with Mexico In event Of war
with the United States"
This was a clear statement Of the aim
of the tilm. as reprinted from Hearst
paper. THE New York American This
letter, carrying a warning against the
entire Japanese nation, further con-
tinued: "And secretly Japan conspires
against this country with her ally. She
Las everything 10 gain by such a war,
nothing to lose Let our insignificant
regular army be preoccupied with war
on the Mexican border, and our Pacific
Coast will be defeuce.esS against the
hordes which japan holds ready to
hurl against Us. Once these have
csined a foothold there, with the nat
ural barrier Of the Rocky Mountains
10 shield, Japan will hold the Pacific
Coast ss a fef forever and a day"
So ran the letter that placed Mr.
Hearst's own yellow peril" thoughts
before the people in q romantic guise
that apparently added 10, rather than
took away from, its reality. This let.
ter motivates the entire photoplay.
which originally placed the Japanese
IN the position as being ready -
pounce upon the United States ct the
first opportunity, and which was cal
culated 70 rouse race hatred.
II was this that called the Presi-
dents attention TO the film, after he
had seen several fragments Of it in
Washington. Il was this, also, tina:
led to the request for some change
in the photoplay, and also Mr.. Hearst's
aforementioned compliance" with the
request.
Although the picture has passed its
day in first class houses, it was said
yesterday that it was still being shown
in second. third and fourth run houses.
and probably would continue 10 be dis
played in its revised" form for an
other year or two.