U BOAT ATTACK ON U.S. CONVOYS EXAGGERATED

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2361

CREEL ADMITS TO REWRITING REPORT OF U-BOAT ATTACK FOR 4TH OF JULY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) As we all know, President Donald Trump is often heard complaining about "fake news."  If there is such a thing today, it is neither new nor limited to the press.

100 years ago today, July 5, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson's Chief of the Bureau of Public Information, George Creel, admitted that he rewrote "a dry report" on a battle between German U-Boats and American transports bound for France.

Mr. Creel, who based his announcement of the 4th of July 1917 on an original report by Admiral Albert Gleaves*, said he wanted "to make...Independence Day a more joyous occasion."

The bureau chief, however, was not in a joyous mood when asked by the press for his version of the affair.  An angry George Creel responded...

"I am going over to the Navy Department and advise Secretary (Josephus) Daniels** to pay no attention...to these nasty reports."

The Chicago Daily Tribune reported that Mr. Daniels, the sponsor of the Creel announcement, "appeared to be hurt greatly" when he learned that the report had been exaggerated.

*Albert Gleaves (1858-1937) was born in Nashville, TN & graduated from the USNA in 1877.  AG served in the Spanish-American War and commanded the U.S. Asiatic Fleet in 1919.

**Josephus Daniels (1862-1948) was born in Washington, NC & educated at Wilson Collegiate Institute & Trinity College (Duke).  He served as 41st Secretary of the Navy 1913-1921.

SOURCE

"Creel Admits He 'Made' U-Boat Attack Story,"  The Chicago Daily Tribune, July 6, 1917.

Albert Gleaves

Bain Photo (1917)

Library of Congress Image

GERMAN DECEITS, INSULTS & PLOTS!

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2350

FIRST AMERICAN RED WHITE & BLUE BOOK OFFICIAL STATEMENT ISSUED 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred years ago tonight, June 24, 1917, "the first in a series of official statements" explaining how the United States was 'forced' into World War I was issued by the administration of President Woodrow Wilson.

The statements, which were prepared by Secretary of State Robert Lansing*, Secretary of War Newton D. Baker and Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels with the assistance of George Creel, were to collectively be known as the American Red, White & Blue Book.

The first statement indicted the German government by "exposing how every effort...to gain...observance of international law and treaty obligations went for naught."

The pamphlet addressed American neutrality and the sinking of the British passenger liner Lusitania resulting in "the wanton murder of peaceable men and innocent women and children."

The headline in an article in the Chicago Daily Tribune of June 25, 1917 written by Arthur Sears Hennings says that the United States was forced into the war by "deceits, insults (and) plots."


*Robert Lansing (1864-1928) was born in Watertown, NY & graduated from Amherst College in 1886.  RL was admitted to the bar in 1889 & served as Secretary of State from 1915 to 1920.

"Why U.S. Fights Kaiser, Forced Into War By Deceits, Insults, Plots", by Arthur Sears Henning, The Chicago Daily Tribune, June 25, 1917.

Robert Lansing
Secretary of State (1919)
Library of Congress Image