The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-13
CENSOR CREEL IS BEING LAUGHEDAT FOR ELABORATION Precipitates Nationwide Spy Scare by Playing Up" Report of Sub-
 marine Attack
By HUGH ". ROBERTS

Washington, July 12-(Special)-T a
 good story needs no establishment is an old adage, but George Creel, official
 censor of the government, if reports be
 true, viola ted it's every restriction. As result, he is charged with having
 precipitated a nation wide hysteria based
 on fear of German spies Furthermore, he is said to be drectely responsible for the Penrose resolution which demands an in quiry into the merits of the official state-
 ment of Secretary Daniels regarding an alleged battle between American troop , ships and German submarines. Out of it all, Washington has trem- bled in fear, shuddered in disgust, waxed violent in anger, and shaken in laugh ter. In the meantime, the navy department declines to make public the official report of Admiral Gleaves, which would clear up the doubt as to the extensive nature of the aforesaid sea battle THE SPY HYSTERIA En route to France, ships bearing American soldiers encountered subma- rines. No casualties resulted. The representa- tive of the Associated
 Press, accompanying the troop ships, filed on arrival in France a colorless story of the successful landing of the Pershing force.
 Admiral Gleaves made official report to Secretary Daniels. That report is not divulged.
 Secretary Daniels made the announce
 ment to the American public. It was drama tic, coorful, picturesque and spec tacular. That report is said. by one Of those who explained, to have been written by Creel; and by another to have been dictated from the official report by Sec- retary Daniels. It is said to be erroneous in several particulars. It's statement that the submarines attacked in force and 1 that one of the submarines, to a "cer- tainty," was destroyed, is said to lack confirmation. Immediately after it's pub lication the nation started it's hunt for | spies
 A VAGRANT SUBMARINE 1 From the report of Secretary Daniels I the nation was led to believe that Ger many had detailed information regarding the departure of American troop ships, l It now appears that the submarine or submarines encountered were of the vag- rant type-of the type any ship at sea is 1 liable to encounter.
 l This would eliminate the spy theory. It would also lead the nation to believe that I it had started it's spy hunt without i sufficient justification.
 l Through it all, Daniels and Greet have maintained silence. The latter, however. \ did state that the contention that in his l elabora tion' he had marred truth was | false.
 THE FIRST DOUBT l Following the Daniels statement. the nation was thrilled by the masterly man
 ner in which American gunners had dis l posed of submaries which, having re- ceived warning, attacked with great Dit | terness, in force.
 The Daniels letter reached across | the seas. Admiral Gleaves. it is said, | was so surprised that he rendered an | other report The Associated Press in- | quired as to why it's correspondent had been so badly scooped. He eX- | plained
 Doubt as to the accuracy of the | Daniels report was instantly wide spread. The nation called for the first report of Admiral Gleayes.
 WITHHOLDING REPORT
 The report was withheld. The an
 nouncement was made that it's pub 1 licaton would inform Germany as Co l the latitude and longitude at which the battle was fought.
 l When the editor of a New York | newspaper informed the country that 1 if Germany was at the battle Ger | many already knew the longitude and ] latitude, another statement emanated | rom representatives, VI thc hoNS HS | partment That statement was to the l effect that the publication of the 1 Gleaves report would give Germany an 1 index into the American naval code. l It Is regarded as probable that the | naval department will not respond 10 | the terms of the Penrose resolution. l However. out of it all the govern ment prospered. Having fear--nCw generally known to be unfounded- 1 that German spies tipped" of the sail | ing of troop ships, the government made plans to clear it's own skirts. It convinced itself that in indis- | criminately admitting visitors to 1 Washington. in permitting representa- : | tives of Bulgaria, Turkey and Austria
 to remain in this city -in many other ways it was conducting itself indis- ! creety.
 | Reformation is promised. And thus 1 it is held proba bic that after all the I Creel elaboration" will be proved to have been of service
 |