France, England, and Italy

XTATURALLY enough, the Allied countries were JL 11 first consideration in the matter of intensive activities, for the maintenance of French, English, and Italian morale was of the supremest importance. It was not that either soldiers or civilians lacked courage or were lessening in determination, but war-weariness had sapped ardor and enthusiasm, and there was the ever-present consciousness that the enemy advanced in spite of every resistance. "Can America come in time?" This was a question in every heart, if not on every lip, and the Germans answered it by sneering assertions that America had neither troops, transports, nor munitions. It was the job of the Committee to answer this lie by daily report on America's war progress, so that on every firing-line, and back of them, there might be understanding of the invincibility of the United States, the speed of its preparations, and the certainty of swift and decisive aid.

France was not only of peculiar importance in itself, but Paris was the clearing-house for our cable and wireless service, the center from which Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Portugal drew direct information. To this important post we sent James Kerney, editor of The Trenton Evening Times, a choice for which I was blamed no little in the first days. Mr. Kerney did not know Europe, did not speak French, and had no familiarity with diplomatic usage, and these lacks were assumed to unfit him CHARLES E. MERRIAM PAUL PERRY

HENRY SUYDAM for the task in hand. As a matter of fact, these supposed qualifications were always of minor importance in our calculations. We did not want a commissioner who had the European point of view, or one who fancied himself a diplomat, but we wanted an American who thought regularly and enthusiastically in terms of America and who would worry over his job, not over his dignity. That was why we selected "Jim" Kerney, a first-class newspaper man, a dynamo of energy and originality, an enthusiast with an unfailing supply of optimism, and, above all, a real American. Not only did he fulfil every hope in the discharge of his duties, but, humorously enough, the French took him to their hearts at once, and he enjoyed a popularity that was never attained by the careful, precise gentlemen who "knew Europe, spoke French, and were familiar with diplomatic usage."

i At the very outset Mr. Kerney established close working relations with Ambassador Sharp, General Pershing, and Admiral Wilson, linked up with the Maison de la Presse, the French propaganda bureau, and gained intimate contacts with the editors of the provincial press as well as the great Paris dailies. It was soon the case that the French press and reviews were filled with American news, and a smooth-running machinery took care of the relay of the wireless service to Berne, Rome, Madrid, and Lisbon.

A next step was "American front stuff," not the usual communiqu69 but live news stories, day by day, that would give the Allies and the neutral nations a vivid understanding of how the Yankees were massing, preparing, and fighting. Martin Egan, at General Pershing's headquarters, was of invaluable aid in putting across the plan, and before long this service was in operation, Maximilian Foster roaming the fighting front, his author's eye quick to see. his artist's hand keen to write.

Not only were there American objections to overcome, but there was the French censorship itself that the new firing-line service had to buck up against. Mr. Kerney saw Premier Clemenceau personally, and as a result the rules were modified in such manner as to permit free relation of the wonderful story of "America in France." The Foster communiques, as they came to be called, were not only added to the Committee's news service for Europe, but became an integral part of the world service as well, doing their work in South America and the Orient as well as in Holland and Scandinavia.

As a further use for the Committee's wireless service, Mr. Kerney relayed it by telegraph to American headquarters and the various American bases in France for the information of the A. E. F., and also put it in the offices of the Paris editions of The London Daily Mail, The New York Herald, The Chicago Tribune, and The Stars and Stripes. As a matter of fact, the bulk of the American news that appeared in these papers was furnished by the Committee on Public Information, and certainly it was the principal source of the "home news" that meant so much to the individual doughboy.

As in the case of so many other foreign commissioners, Mr. Kerney was hurried to Paris with instructions to find his force "on the ground," for even had there been time for the selection of assistance, there was the objection that he could not know what personnel he needed until he found out exactly what it was that he had to do. The building of his organization is not only a matter of interest in itself, but it may give some idea of how the Committee, driving always at top speed, was forced to rely upon its representatives and to trust to good fortune in the securement of expert assistance.

One of Mr. Kerney 's first acquisitions was Madame Edith Bagues, the American wife of a distinguished French officer, who entered the Committee's office to serve as executive secretary. Speaking French like a native, knowing France intimately, and blessed with brains as well as beauty, Madame Bagues was a voice, a right hand, a rudder, and an inspiration. Frank M. Mansfield and A. Brace, two competent American newspaper men, were located and put in charge of the wireless service, Wilmot H. Lewis, a cosmopolitan correspondent, handled all contacts with the French press, and two clever French journalists, M. Claude Berton and M. Beryl, were assigned to the task of translation. James Hazen Hyde, long resident in Paris, was finding Red Cross work an insufficient outlet for his eager patriotism and tremendous energies, and Mr. Kerney soon captured him. It can safely be said that Mr. Hyde knew everybody in France who was worth knowing, and he put his time entirely at the service of the Committee, rendering aid of inestimable value. Marquise de Polignac, formerly Mrs. "Jimmy" Eustis of New York, was another American that Mr. Kerney pressed into service, and Marquis de Polignac himself was also used vigorously in the work of distributing specially prepared leaflets to the peasants of France.

Maj. A. L. James, Jr., chief of the press and censorship division of the Intelligence Section, took offices immediately adjoining those of the Committee, and in addition Mr. Kerney won to close and understanding contact with Gen. Dennis E. Nolan, chief of the Intelligence Section, and with Gen, Edgar E. Russel, chief of the Signal Corps. Whether it was in connection with pictures, the relay of news, or getting our matter in the German territory, these officers never failed to put men and facilities at Mr. Kerney's disposal.

Edgar B. Hatrick, a film expert in France in the interests of the Red Cross, was taken over by Mr. Kerney, and not only planned productions, but organized channels for the

20 *93 flow of pictures from the Signal Corps to the Committee. In order to save time, all firing-line photographs were sent to the European offices of the Committee directly from Paris, going out in weekly shipments. Under the direction of Mr. Hatrick, a great feature-film was assembled under the title of "America's Answer to the Hun," and the Gaumont Palace in Paris was rented for a presentation. It was witnessed by the members of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, the diplomatic representatives of Great Britain, Italy, and Japan, as well as many of the Allied military and naval chiefs, and was given a mighty reception. This film in four reels depicted the protection afforded by the American navy to transports, disembarking of troops, our construction and installations at ports and along the lines of communication right up to the fighting front, the ambulance and supply services. It concluded with a number of scenes showing the American fighters in action at Chateau-Thierry, and one section of the theater was reserved for wounded doughboys from the hospitals in and about Paris. Columns of space were devoted to the event in the newspapers of France and England, and copies of the film were promptly sent to all the Allied and neutral countries for showing there. The big commercial producers, Gaumont and Pathe, arranged at once to send it into all their houses in France, and it was used most successfully among the troops, in factories, universities, schools, etc.

This feature-film, brought to the United States, was enriched with the cantonment scenes and pictures of the shipyards and the navy, and released under the title of "America's Answer."

One of the most enduring features of Mr. Kerney's work was a system of university and university extension lectures. Shortly after his arrival he met the presidents of all the French universities and presented to them a plan aimed at combating the wide-spread anti-American propaganda throughout France, by making known the spirit and extent of America's part in the war. These lectures were further framed to put the story of America's greatness, in some permanent form, into the minds of the local leaders of thought, as well as into the minds of the people. The Committee was able to get into personal touch with more than two hundred qualified lecturers, furnishing them with literature and documents, as well as lantern slides, with the result that practically every part of France was reached. The presidents of the universities gave their heartiest co-operation, and one hundred and fifty thousand copies of a pamphlet containing a summarization of American information were distributed to the school-teachers. The university presidents, together with the Ministry of Public Instruction, agreed upon M. Firman Roz of the University of Paris as a man most eminently fitted to inaugurate the American lectures. M. Roz, together with some other university representatives and writers, was taken over the American lines of communication and supplies, as well as to the front lines. The series of lectures began at the Sorbonne, M. Lucien Poincare, brother of the President of the Republic, presiding, and immediately after this initial lecture M. Firman Roz began his tour of the universities, speaking at Bordeaux, Toulouse, Montpellier, Marseilles, Grenoble, Chambery, Lyons, Dijon, Besangon, Caen, Rennes, Poitiers, and Clermont-Ferrand .

These lectures gave America much publicity in the provincial press and had an especially good influence on the editorial columns. The presidents of the respective universities had invited to the lectures leading professors from each town in the educational district under the control of the university. In this way the university extension lectures were developed, the local professors organizing lecture centers. A complete list of these lecturers was kept in Paris and fresh literature, giving the latest information about America, regularly mailed to them. Local lectures were also given in many of the big provincial towns, the Committee receiving fine co-operation on the part of American consular representatives. Through the consulates everywhere printed matter was distributed, and in the larger centers, such as Havre, Cherbourg, Marseilles, Nantes, Tours, St. Nazaire, Lyons, Boulogne, Franco- American demonstrations, including lectures and production of movie films, were provided.

At the urgent request of the French Minister of Munitions, lectures on the American participation in the war were given in the various industrial plants in France engaged in manufacturing war-supplies, the purpose being to stem the unrest constantly cropping up. These lectures were given by Dr. Herbert Adams Gibbons, the American writer who had been in France since before the outbreak of the war, and who gladly turned his time and abilities over to Mr. Kerney. Both the French government officials and the manufacturers pronounced this work as highly valuable in its effect on the industrial situation. The proprietors and managers of the big steel and munitions plants were brought together in Paris on July 5th, the meeting being presided over by M. Loucher, Minister of Munitions, who dwelt upon the importance of the lecture and cinematographic work of the Committee in France.

Doctor Gibbons's first lecture in this unique course was at the factory of Louis Renault, where airplane motors, motor-trucks, tanks, cannon, and shells were being produced. The lecture was given twice in this plant, being recorded both stenographically and on the phonograph in order that it might get the most complete distribution among the twenty-five thousand employees. M. Renault subsequently declared that this exposition of America's part insured his plant against any labor disturbances for at least six months. The film was shown and the lecture given in all of the large plants engaged in the manufacture of war materials throughout France. Upward of one hundred thousand copies of the lecture were printed at the expense of the manufacturers for distribution among their employees.

On the invitation of the official French Propaganda Bureau, Doctor Gibbons spent several days lecturing in the mining country and, at the instance of the same organization, went for ten days into Alsace, explaining the American situation to the populations of the reconquered regions and, in turn, explaining the Alsatian question to the American troops occupying sectors on that front.

At our suggestion, Mr. Kerney established a "visitors' bureau" for the purpose of taking American correspondents on trips to the various fighting fronts, and Mr. Kerney soon broadened this original purpose by invitations to the correspondents of every country.

Leading writers for the French dailies, magazines, and reviews, with illustrators, were taken to the American front, and the publications were soon crowded with the remarkable accomplishments of our army and navy. This liberal treatment of the work continued until accounts of the glorious conduct of the troops at the fighting front produced the finest propaganda that ever appeared in any country. Writers from Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, and the Scandinavian countries were brought to France and shown over the sectors in which the Americans were operating, and the reports they published were exceedingly useful in their effect not only in their home countries, but upon the civilian morale of Germany. This was particularly the case with the publication of American news in Switzerland, which occupied the most advantageous position in the matter of enemy propaganda. Photographs of the American work and of the American fighters were supplied in great quantities, through the Signal Corps of the army, and were likewise despatched weekly to the Committee's representatives all over Europe, with the result that American pictures and American news filled the reviews and journals everywhere.

The English situation was never very bothersome, coming to be handled almost as a matter of routine. The great London dailies maintained correspondents in New York and Washington, and in addition to this the British government made it a practice to invite groups of prominent Americans for English tours. While the purpose, of course, was to have England's story brought back to the United States in the interests of better understanding, it was equally the case that these Americans put the facts of our own accomplishments before the people of England.

Mr. Harry N. Rickey, formerly head of the Newspaper Enterprise Association, was our first London representative, opening the office and remaining until called back to the United States to assist in the direction of the Foreign Section. By reason of his ability, experience, and personality, Mr. Rickey put the work on firm foundations. He was succeeded by Charles Edward Russell, who gave most of his time to public speaking, while his son, John Russell, looked after the office routine. Mr. Russell was too valuable in the speaking field to be kept on a single job for any length of time, and he was soon moved to France and Italy, where he put the motives and purposes of America before the workers of the two countries. Paul Perry followed Mr. Russell as head of the London office, serving with distinction to the end.

Had the English situation presented any real problem, as in the case of other countries, the way of the Committee would have been difficult. Lord Northcliffe was in charge of enemy propaganda, there was a press bureau under the direction of Sir Frederick Cook and Sir Frederick Swettenhan, the Foreign Office held certain propaganda functions and claimed a right of general control, Wellington House prepared and distributed pamphlets, Sir William Jury had a motion-picture organization of his own, and the Board of Naval Control possessed censorship powers that were autocratic and varied. Intelligent co-operation was an impossibility and the many changes in personnel, the endless jealousies, the continuous connection between authorities, oftentimes resulted in confusion and failure. For the most part, therefore, we used England as a clearing-house, avoiding as far as possible any contact with the pull and haul of the various organizations.

Italy, on the other hand, was a distinct problem, for German propaganda not only poured in from the outside, but worked with equal vigor from the inside. On looking the field over for a fit representative, we learned that Prof. Charles E. Merriam of the University of Chicago was a captain in the army and engaged in some comparatively unimportant work in one of the Southern camps. Here was not only a professor and economist and a sociologist, but also a man with a wide and varied experience in public life, and by personal appeal to Secretary Baker the army was induced to lend him to us.

Just as we were fortunate in securing Captain Merriam, so was he fortunate in finding John Hearley, in Rome. Aside from his very remarkable natural ability, Mr. Hearley had served as Italian correspondent for the United Press and at the time of Captain Merriam's arrival was operating an American news bureau under the direction of Ambassador Page. Due to the energy and vision of these two men, thirteen thousand cities and towns in Italy were brought to thorough understanding of America and the army itself was fired to the old hope, the old enthusiasm.

Lieut. Walter Wanger was borrowed from the American air service to act as liaison officer with the Italian army, Miss Gertrude Barr, an American of rare executive capacity, was drafted as executive secretary, and Capt. Piero Tozzi and Lieut. Albert Peccorini of the Italian army came into the office to serve as expert advisers. Miss Alice Rohe, the well-known writer, was another valuable volunteer by reason of her intimate knowledge of Italy, and others who gave time and effort unflaggingly were Kingsley Moses, E. Q. Cordner, and Byron M. Nester.

Mr. Hearley, assisted by Kenneth Durant, sent over from the Washington office for this particular purpose, gave first attention to the news service. By arrangement with the Agenzia Stefani, Italy's largest press association, every paper in Italy received the Committee's daily cable and wireless service, and in addition to this a daily news bulletin was printed for direct distribution in military, journalistic, educational, and governmental circles. The Poole service was turned over to Miss Rohe and Mr. Moses, who prepared illustrated feature articles for the daily press and the periodical press. The people of Italy were almost childishly eager for American news, and both services were enthusiastic and given columns in every publication.

At the suggestion of Captain Merriam, the Committee made a selection in the United States of certain men calculated to have influence in Italy,and among those sent over were Dr. Rudolph Altrocchi from the Chicago University, Senator Salvatore Cotillo of the New York State legislature, Judge Ben B. Lindsey, and Arthur Bennington, the Italian authority of The New York World. It was also our good fortune to secure Captain Fiorello from the army, as he proved a forceful and convincing speaker. Judge Cravates, United States judge at Cairo, was also brought to Italy, and from native sources Captain Merriam gained the assistance of Agostino d'Isernia, Doctor Professor Satorio, Doctor Professor Penunzio, Signor Poggiolini, and the thirteen-year-old Alberto Gelpi. Besides, Professoressa Gugliesmina Ronconi, a prominent Italian social worker, and her several associates were attached to this department. These concerned themselves with the women workers, peasant women, and school-children, holding frequent morale and educational conferences or discussions for them in popular halls, workshops, and farm centers.

Whenever possible, American moving pictures or lantern slides were used to illustrate all these discourses.

The native speakers did a splendid work, but Italian enthusiasm was reserved for those who came to them from the United States. The cities and towns turned out en masse to hear them, and in many of the villages the people drew the carriage through the streets and rained flowers on the flattered occupant.

Mr. Hoagland, proceeding to Italy from France, established a laboratory and worked with Lieutenant Wanger and Mr. Cordner in the building of the machinery that carried the Committee's pictures to every corner of the nation.

The perfected films with Italian captions were shown to both military and civilian populations, at the front and behind the lines, aid being received from private and public agencies, such as Italian cinema houses, patriotic associations, schools, Italian offices of naval and military propaganda, the American Young Men's Christian Association.

Once a week the Committee supplied the Inter-Allied Weekly, a war-time Pathe of the Italian government, with appropriate American film material for display in theaters throughout Italy.

More peculiarly than any other people, the Italians loved picture-cards and little gimcracks of all kinds, and under Mr. Nester's direction the Committee distributed 4,500,500 post-cards bearing American war pictures; American flag bow-pins, Italo-American ribbons and buttons, 154,854; President Wilson posters, 68,574; assorted American war posters, 66,640; American flags in paper, 200,000; American flags in cloth, 30; sheet music, "The Star-spangled Banner," 33,300; booklets containing extracts from President Wilson's speeches, 326,650; pamphlets containing American war statistics and other information, 364,235; United States maps, 200; President Wilson photographs, 500; President Wilson engravings, 35.

Reprints from American photographic displays were exhibited in three thousand Italian towns and cities. In some form or other American educational information was disseminated through sixteen thousand towns and cities of Italy by this department alone.