Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

332 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 7 Latest News of State Rights Productions UP-TO-THE-MINUTE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INDEPENDENT FIELD Big War Secret Revealed by Film How Dr. Albert, German Propagandist, "Lost" His Famous Portfolio Is Shown in "The Eagle's Eye" IN THE SIXTH EPISODE of "The Eagle's Eye," the new Wharton secret service serial, Chief Flynn makes a most important revelation — how Dr. Heinrich Albert, the fiscal attache of the Imperial German Embassy at Washington, "lost" his famous brown portfolio containing the secrets of alien propaganda in this country. How Dr. Albert lost his portfolio and into whose hands it originally fell have long been a mystery and a source of great interest to every chancellory in Europe, so important were the revelations that followed, both to the American and Allied governments. The real story is that Dr. Albert lost his portfolio on a Sixth avenue elevated train. Just a few days ago Leopold Wharton, assisted by D. H. Turner, photographed every incident connected with its loss. The management of the elevated system gave Mr. Wharton a train of five cars, running it as he requested from Rector to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth street. During the run several stops were made. This is said to be the first instance of an elevated train being used to make a picture. Dr. Albert came to this country as . an Imperial German promoter of propaganda. Very soon after the beginning of the war he made his presence apparent. His hand was seen in a mysterious campaign to create public opinion against England and France, and adverse to America entering into the war, no matter what provocation the Imperial German Government might offer. Provided with an unlimited amount of money, he established news bureaus, employed special writers and subsidized many publications, which became very energetic disseminators of pro-German publicity. Wherever he went he always carried a brown portfolio under his arm. There were many secret service agents, both American and foreign, who were curious to know what that brown portfolio contained and constant watch was kept on him in the hope that an opportunity might occur to gain possession of it. On the afternoon of July 24, 1915, the chance happened and Dr. Albert lost his brown portfolio on the Sixth avenue train. The first intimation that anyone had that it had given up its secrets, outside a small official circle, came through the publication of a part of the papers in the New York dailies. The day following the loss of the portfolio Dr. Albert offered a reward of $25 for its return. He, or his government, would gladly have paid $100,000, but he evidently thought it might have fallen into the hands of someone who did not appreciate its importance, or else that a large reward would incite too much interest. The effect of acquiring Dr. Albert's papers was a revelation that created a sensation throughout the world and showed in a most startling way one angle of the insidious working of the Imperial German Government's war machine in this country. Up to within a short time ago it was believed that Dr. Albert's papers were acquired by an English secret service agent who had been shadowing him. The fact is that the English secret service intelligence bureau in this country knew nothing about the incident till a part of the documents were published in New York. The sixth episode of "The Eagle's Eye," which deals with Dr. Albert, will be called "The Brown Portfolio," and will be one of the most interesting and sensational of the twenty in which this production will be presented. "Blood of His Fathers" Sold Through David Russell, sales representative of David Horsley, a sale was made for the United States rights to the Crane Wilbur subject, "Blood of His Fathers," to the Sterling Pictures Corporation. This is an unusual six-reel subject that gives Mr. Wilbur a good opportunity to display his versatility. In the opening reel he gives a realistic portrayal of a Civil War incident that revolves around a South touch of Pathos from the Vitagraph pic book, "Oi turc play of Scrgt. Arthur Guy Empey's war >er the Top."