New-York tribune., 1918-06-24
mission to photograph the tanks or ex-
hibit any films Of tanks.
Cochrane's Statement
By BRIGGS

Cochrane's Statement
Mr.. Cochrane's statement follows in
full:
"This picture, The Tanks Are Com
ing was made by the Universal Film
Company at the request oe one of the
largest firms manufacturing airplanes
in America. 1t was planned to show
to the American public the progress
that had been made by American air
men, to vindicate America from the
charges that we had proved deficient
that the Liberty motor is a gigantic
success, and finally to inspire Ameri-
cans by the magnificent showing this
country is making in the development
and use of aircraft in the present war.
mo military secrets not already
known to Germany and the world at
large are shown in the making of this
great picture, which is a patriotic
glorification of Americas share in the
war in the air.
I'm taking this picture the Universal
company had the aid and assistance of
officials of the United States Signal
Corps detailed at the factory; our pho
tographers and representatives had the
fullest cooperation of the company it.
self. This company has q contract with
the War Department for the manufact-
ure OF an enormous number of air.
planes. The fact that we have had our
men working on this picture for months
was we'll known to officials of the War
Department and the Signal Corps. Our
only mistake apparently was not to dis
cuss the matter beforehand with Mr..
Creel. and it never occurred to us that
picture of this kind, taken at the re-
quest of the company manufacturing
airplanes, could ever possibly need his
official approval or permission.
when the completed picture was
shown in Washington last week it re-
ceived the highest praise from officials
OF the War Department and of the Sig
nal Corps. Mr.. Creel sent a repre-
sentative to see it. That representative
notified US that the Committee on Pub
lie information would not pass the pict-
ure. We requested Mr.. Creel to see the
picture and point out its defects, ac-
cording to his judgment.
linen began our negotiations with
Mr.. Creel and his committee. He re-
fused to view the picture personally,
and has never seen it. His representa-.
tlves, who acted with him, and who
are responsible with him for suppress
ing the picture, are the following:
vision of films, formerly on the Hearst
newspapers; Carl Byoir, formerly an
editor of "Hearst's Magazine"; Mr..
Sisson, formerly of Hearst's "Cosmo-
politan Magazine: A. Berst, formerly
of aearst's Pathe Weekly; H. C. Hoae-
land, of the Hearst -Pathe Weekly: E.
s.. Hatrick, of Hearst's Internationa,
Film Servise; Mr.. Hubbell, of the
Hearst Pathe Weekly; Lew Simons. of
she Hearst Pathe Weekly; R. l.. Hall,
formerly of the Hearst newspapers;
I1nnnhNn NF <1o n
Weekly; G. F: Van Arsdale, of the
Hearst Pathe Weekly, and G. A. Smith.
OF the Hearst Pathe, Weekly.
Says Hearst Got Privileges
These gentlemen, all ex-employes
OF OF william X. Hearst, who conducts a
MIN company of his own, which seems
to enjoy amazing privileges and close
relations with the Creel committee. ali
decided that our picture should not be
shown with their approval.
me technical reasons given by Mr..
Creel were that the picture had been
taken without his official permit. and
that since he had already refused per-
mission to another moving picture com.
pany to take airship pictures it would
De unfair discrimination to permit us
TO show our picture. He said he would
not release the picture unless all other
companies had chance to bid for such
rights, and added, so am reliably in
formed by one Of our representatives
IN whom I have absolute confidence, If
let the Universal exhibit this picture
would have Hearst at my throat with
IN twentyfour hours
Answering Mr.. Creel's objections
that the picture discloses military
secrets, We have the word of officials
OF the Signal Corps that the picture
shows nothing not already known to
Germany, and that the public of Amer
lca have right to know what is being
done; first. about the expenditure of
tneir Liberty Bond loan for the pro-
diction of aeroplanes; secondly. that
'h'~ -~'"~Hv h"s h~ar efic'antlv expend-
ed; thirdly, to disprove the slanderous
StatemeptS that 4ha ihar&sx ntess