The sun., 1917-08-05
BAKER ORDER
MAKES CREEL
ARMY CENSOR
Executive Gags Officers and
Designates Writer as De-
partment's Mouthpiece.
FJOUTS CONGRESS VOTE
Action Prompted by Magazine
Mans Complaints Bureau
Was Being "Scooped."
Special DespatcA to Tue srN.

WAsHINGroN, Aug. 4.--Secretary of
War Baker, at the suggestion OF George
Creel, has issued an order to army off,
GERS and officials Of the War Department.
directing m to Withhold from the
newspapers all information OF news
value until 1t has been given to the
committee on public information for dis
tribution for publication in the official
bulletin.
Newspaper correspondents in making
their usual inquiries to-day were shown
the order and told that henceforth the
Creel bureau would be the sole news
agency for all matters concerning Ad-
ministration policies and activities. Mr..
Bakers action was prompted It is sale.
BY complaints from Mr.. Creel that his
Official bulletin was, being "scoopeI"
eaily by the Associated Press and the
newspapers.
Sets Up Censorship.
The basic idea OF the new policy. how.
ever, is of greater Importance to the
Administration than guarding the news
interests of the committee on public in.
formation. 1t virtually amounts to
putting into effect by Executive order
the censorship plan which the Admins
tration failed to have Congress indorsc
regarding public criticism OF the Gov
ernment. BY preventing the newspapers
from getting news excepting through
the Creel bureau the War Depa artment
will be assured that nothing but the
most favorable and commendatoiy
aspects Of the Departments work will
come under the scrutiny Of the American
people.
Since the establishment of Mr.. Creers
news agency situations such as that
which existed in the Shipping Board
have no. received any mention. Several
times recently many members of Coy
ernment committees who have given in
formation to correspondents have been
called up subsequently by the Creel
bureau and cautioned against the
practice.
The whole idea Is fundamentally re-
pugnant to many army officers. One
officer said TODAY that members of the
CTeel bureau frankly asked him day
after day whether ba did not have some
news favorable to the army and the Ad-
ministration.
Creers Aids Indignant.
Army ofncers explained to-day that
Mr.. Creefs lieutenants had come into
War Department offices in pursuance to
orders with clippings from the newspa-
pers in their hands and Indignantly
asked why the official bulletin was not
given the items which appeared in the
press.
The officers contend they are not ex-
perts at the newspaper business and
That II has been impossible for them
10 suggest matter to the publicity agents,
who come with no ideas other than a
vague desire for something favorable" :"
Mr. Creel then took up his grievance
with Secretary Baker and asked that
news items which result from inquiries
OF correspondents be given to his official
bulletin staff before release to the person
rule has been laid down that all the
news must first be available to Me Of
fcial bulletin.
Complaint is made, however. that not
all the official news appearing in the
bulletin is accurate.
The bulletin Of July 20 contained an
article entitled Calls for Stenographers
10 Meet Governments Demand" In
which widespread publicity was given to
the idea that all women had to do was
to apply for positions after a three
weeks course and get Government work.
By way of emphasizing the demand. the
f. official bulletin cites an example OF one
bureau of the Department Of Com
merce which called for seventy-four
stenographers and got only seventeen.
Demand Creel Explain.
When the civil service commissioners
read this statement they were amazed.
There are upward OF 5000 now on the
civil service waiting list and the supply
OF stenographers and typists far exceeds
the demand. The statement that three
weeks course Is all that Is required is
regarded as absurd.
Countless letters are now coming in
from patriotic women in all parts of the
country who have been misled by the
misstatement. The civil service COM
missioners have been obliged to inform
every one that the official bulletin bad
no authority for making the announce
ment.
After seeking in a pleasure "a undo
the harm done by this yhisstatement. the
civil service commissioners have written
to Mr.. Creel virtually demanding that
he correct the false statement and make
some sort Of an explanation. So far no
49,.