New-York tribune., 1918-06-25
Decision on "Yanks Are
Coming" Picture Entirely
His Own, He Says
Baker Declares
He's in Full Accord
Universal Company Failed
to Obtain Required Per-
nit, Is Charge
Especial Dispatch to Tho Tribune,

NopectdI D&pdtch TO me Irtonhe(
WASHINGTON, June "a. - George
Creel. chairman Of the Committee on
Public Information, disapproved the
war film "The Yanks Are Coming" be-
cause "every detail of the films max
ing was in open disregard and even
defiance of established procedure" he
asserted to-day in answer to the charges
made by the Universal Film Company
In a statement to the press Creel
accuses the Universal company Of max
inig the film without official permit,
and declares that the company planned
a commercial exploitation of the film
for It's own profit"
"The only question in issue Is
whether private greed shall have the
power to nullify the governments ef-
forts to protect its military secrets" !"
Creel declared.
Calls Hearst Charge Absurd
Creels complete statement, issued at
the Committee on Public Information,
said:
"The motion picture, The Yanks Are
Coming was refused the necessary off,
cial sanction because every detail of
the films making was in open disregard
and even defiance of established pro-
cedure. No photographs may be made
IN any factory doing government war
work without formal permits. issued
0ItGr InVpaflOQfiop T1o -: 4
not have these permits, and made no
effort to get them. Also, after making
the pictures without permits, the Uni
versal planned a commercial exploita-
tion of the film for its own profit, a
privilege denied every other motion
picture producer in the United States
at one time or another.
"The only question in issue is
whether private greed shall have the
power to nullify the governments
efforts to protect its military secrets
The charge of Hearst influence is mere
~ an attempt to muddy the water, and
is as absurd as it is indecent.
mo one in connection with this or
ganization had responsibility in the
matter save myself. The decision was
my own, and others merely carried out
my explicit instructions"
Secretary of War Baker declined tc
be drawn into the controversy this
afternoon. While acknowledging thai
ne had received a telegram Of protest
from r. II. Cochrane, vice-president Of
the Universal, Secretary Baker sale
that he would leave the answering o1
the message to Creel.
In Accord With Creel
"The War Department is perfectly ir
,Lo% ,
he said. "If they (the Universal Film
will consider it, but I will make ns
personal comment on it."
Creel later consented to review tn.
part he played in the suppression O.
the picture. He admitted that a lacl
Of cooperation between the Sigma
Corps and the picture division wa.
really responsible for the entire mixup
though he maintained that as his com
mittee was charged with the task O
supervising the voluntary censorship
of pictures and news his action in de
clining to approve the picture was jus
tilted.
He said the airplane company ha
received consent to have some picture
taken by an officer in the Signal Corps
but he maintained that the Universa
company failed to apply for the Gus
tomary permit for taking the pictures
as the rules Of the committee require
He said that Frank Atkins, office man
ager Of the airplane company, had pei
sonally sought the approval by tn
committee Of the picture, but this wa
withheld because the picture compan
had failed to proceed according to Gus
tom In procuring permit to visit tn
government plant.
Creel said the assertion that the al,
plane company might lose its contrac
II the picture were shown publicly wa
far fetched, but he held that it woul
constitute the rankest discrimination
one motion picture company receive
the exclusive rights to produce a wa
picture. while other companies ha
been refused the same privilege.ss
Picture Authorized by Lieutenant
In explaining the Hearst Path
Company's perturbation of America,
tanks in operation, Creel said thi
picture was authorized by lieutenan
IN the tank service, who desired t.
use the film in q recruiting campaign
for that service.
"This picture" Creel said, "is n
longer to be shown publicly, as tn
War Department is definitely oppose
w ~AJ PASsuA A1oVACu VI btcpS Lakeu o.
the tank service of the army"
Reverting to the charge made b
Vice-President Cvchrane that Cree
was influenced by Hearst ana that h
had twelve former employees of Hears
in his organization, Creel said:
"Byoir had not been employed b
Hearst for more than a year when h
eame to me. He left business payirl
$4,000 to come down here and do hi
part in the war. When we got into til
war, Sisson was actuated only by patr
otism when he sought connection wit
the committee. l have letter in m
file vigorously protesting against m
employment Of Sisson.
when Hart came to me. Mr.. Hear.
again protested, asserting that / wa
endcavoring to disrupt his organic,
tion. Berst is a 81 a year man. Hoas
land came'to mo from Chicago, whei
he was IN the advertising business.
believe. Hatrick was sent to me by tn
American Red Cross, as he is handlin
their publicity work. l don't know til
/ rest OF these men at ALL"