New-York tribune., 1918-09-24
10000 Copies of
War Answers Book
In Readers Hands
Volume Assailed as Pro
German Still in Wide
Circulation
Publisher Admits 1t
Some Parts "Inadvisable,"
Lanicr Comedies, Silencing
Author

There arc forty thousand copies of
the book 1.-TWO Thousand Questions
and Answers About the War" in cir
culaton. This fact was revealed yes
terday by Charles D. Lanicr, treasurer
OF the Rcvic Of Reviews Company,
which published the book, prepared by
j. W. Muller. Each copy contains a
preface signed by George Creel, chair
man of the Committee on Public Infor-
nation.
Thirtyive Of the two thousand an
swers have been the target of an at
tack by the National Security League,
which characterized the "replies" as
German propaganda. Senator Lodge. Of
of Connecticut. have denounced the
book from th1 floor of the Senate
in a recent statement Mr.. Laner
said the book had been withdrawn from
print. He stated then that 'the first
small edition was exhausted"
Believed Answers Correct
Mr. Muller, who wrote the book, last
Saturday stigmatized as unfounded the
charge Of pro- Germanism He said then
that he was not at liberty to discuss
the work in detail until he had cor
ferred with his publishers, the Revie ~
Of Reviews Company. A Tribune re-
porter met Mr.. Muller by appointment
yesterday at the Offices of the Review
Of Reviews Company.
With Mr. Lanier seated on one side
Of him and another executive officer of
the publishing house on the other side,
Mr. Muller expressed readiness to
answer questions.
Were the answers that have been
criticised correct ones, Mr.. Muller?" he
was asked.
A certain distress of mind was APP
parent iron: Mr.. Muller's constant rub
bing of his hands as though he was
washing them without water. "Certain-
H. | should not have written any
thing that l did not believe was cor
rect" -" he began, in uncertain tones.
Mr.. Lanier Does the Talking
"Bc quiet" Mr.. Lanier commanded
from his strategic position on Mr.. Mul-
lers left. at isn't fair to expect a
Mr.. Laner added.
at was absolutely impossible for
anything to go into the book unless
the Review of Reviews Company want
ed it to 60 in. Isn't that so, Mr.. Null
ler?"
81 certainly would not have put any
! thing in the book that l did not be-
lieve - began Mr.. Muller once more.
Let me talk" spoke Mr.. Laner, at
the same time poking Mr.. Muller on
the arm for emphasis.
Mr.. Muller subsidized and Mr.. Laner
continued
Mr.. Muller Is employed by the Re
view Of Reviews Company to do certain
editorial work. Isn't that so, Mr.. Null
ler?"
Here The Tribune reporter rephrased
his original question to Mr.. Muller as
TO whether he believed his answers
were the correct ones.
Mr.. Muller said fatty that he did.
NJ. Laner looked panied, but diplo-
mat .cally added that, while they might
be correct, they were "inadvisable."
There have been many changes
since this book was writlen,' continued
Mr.. Lanier. duo to the realignment of
Americas relations with the European
nations. The situation has changed a
great deal since the Brest-Ltovsk
treaty"
This point was not dwelt on for
long, because 1T was pointed out that
the treaty was signed in February and
the book did not appear until April.
Mr.. Lanier said the revised edition
of 1.-TWO Thousand Questions and An
swers About the War" should be ready
for distribution some time in October.
He explained that to insure the correct
rewriting and revision of the volume
the company had obtained from tho
Committee on Public Information the
names Of certain American college pro-
lessors who could safely be intrustcd
with the superintendent OF reoditing
you are still in the employ of the
Review Of Reviews Company" Mr.
Muller was asked.
Author Still Works on Book
The writer looked appealingly at Mr.
Lanier who replied:
"Mr Muller is still in our employ"
''ls he working on the question and
answer booker
eyes, he is doing some work on it,
When Mr. Lanicr revealed that 40 ,000
copies of the book containing the OBJ
lectionable answers were in existence
and in the hands of as many pur-
chasers, he was asked what the Re
view of Reviews Company had done to
warn these people against the thirty
tfN NucStloHo tiidC nave UcSll uuucl
fire.
1--WE haven't done anything vet"
"Will you write them a letter Of
warning, Mr.. Lanicr?"
"Wen, | don't know. There are sew
cral things we may do. We may de-
eide to send each Of them a copy Of the
new book. There is this much to be
said for the original book: An answer
might be correct to-day and be wrong
six months from now. There was much
IN the book that. in view Of our rea-
tons with the nations that are fighting
Germany, might better have been left
out"
What will be the policy Of the Re
view OF Reviews Company in the future
with regard to similar books, Mr.
Lanier?"
1T will be carefully considered
one" replied Mr.. Lanicr And here
ended the interview with Mr.. Muller
Mr.. Muller. besides his work for the
Review of Reviews Company, is the
representative in the United States OF
"The Stars and Stripes" the officia,
newspaper Of the American expedition.
airy force. Mr.. Muller says he was as
signed to the work by General Pershing