U balms enigmatic Brit hero of WWII

Disclaimer to accompany 'U-571' pic's credits

By ERICH BOEHM

LONDON -- Universal is making amends to the British WWII hero portrayed as an American serviceman in the $55 million epic "U-571" by including a disclaimer in the pic's closing credits and giving the war vet a walk-on part.

David Balme, 78, who pulled an Enigma decoding machine from a sinking German U-boat in 1941, had been the focus of a protest organized by prominent Brits over Universal's feature, which has the Americans, not the Royal Navy, capturing the Enigma (Daily Variety, March 11).

The capture enabled the Allies to decode German intelligence transmissions and thus save thousands of lives in the North Atlantic.

U flew Balme to the Rome set of "U-571" as a good will gesture and to serve as a consultant. The film stars Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi, Bill Paxton and Matthew McConaughey, who plays Balme.