New-York tribune., 1918-06-24
Says Permit Was Issued

Says Permit Was Issued
II have taken no steps to stop the
showing of the picture. but shouldn't t
be surprised if government men are
here ready to seize the film if it be
shown. I don't Think that Mr.. Creel
has any personal interest in the mat
ter"
R. H. Cochrane, vice-president of the
Universal, declared that the company
az dld nave government permit to take
the picture. and that the film was ap-
proved in Washington by government
officials after it was completed.
Mr.. Cochrane made a statement in
which he charged that Hearst was try
ing to get control of the screen.
He said the picture was made at the
request of one of the largest airplane
manufacturing concerns in the United
States and was planned to show the
American public the progress that had
been made by American airmen to vim
dicate America from the charges that
the country had proven deficient. to
success and to show Pershing's men
what was being done at home.
Praised by U. s. Official
He said the Universal in taking the
picture had the aid and assistance of
officials of the United States Signal
Corps detailed at the factory and that
when the completed picture was shown
in Washington last week it received
the highest praise from officials of the
War Department and the Signal Corps.
Mr.. Creel sent a representative to see
the picture, Mr.. Cochrane said, and the
representative notified the Universal
that the Committee on Public Informa-
tlon would not pass the film.
Mr.. Cochrane charged that Mr.. Creel
was asked to see the picture and point
out its defects, but that he refused to
see it.
Mr.. Cochrane stated that the Uni
versal Film Company refrained from
showing the picture, because, he said,
it might jeopardize the arplane COM
pany's contract.
Several army and navy officers, mem
bers Of the aviation section end promi-
nent New Workers. were present at the
theatre as invited guests of the Uni
versal.
Theatre Refunds Money
In announcing that the picture would
not be shown Mr.. Sheen stated that all
persons might remain for the rest of
the programme as guests of the COM
pany and that their money would be
ASA uHuSu oS IHcy lc1C Tue LneaLIe.
Applause greeted this announcement
and the statement that the matter
would be taken to Congress and if pos
sible to President Wilson in a effort
to have the picture released.
Mr.. Cochrane charged that Mr.. Creel
claimed to have been authorized hv
Secretary of War Baker to stop tho
exhibition of the picture, and that the
Creel committee said it would do so
If it had to get the whole Department
Of Justice to close the theatre and
seize the film 'N
1--WE didn't believe that Mr.. Cree,
had that authority" said Mr.. Cochrane,
so we telegraphed Secretary of War
Baker asking if such authority had
been given to Mr.. Creel. We had ns
answer to that telegram up TO 6 o'clock
Sunday night"
Mr.: Cochrane also charged that
Mr. Creel said the picture must he
offered to all moving picture com.
panies to bid on and declared that sucb
q contention was favorable to the Hearst
Pathe Weekly --'"i O
In his statement Mr.. Cocbraro
charged that the Hearst film comnanv
Is the only one in existence that en;ovs
special privileges from the Creel COM
mittee. 0o' CUM
"Only last week." he said, "the Hearst
MN company showed the American
tanks in action, while other companies
our own inc!uded-were denied per-